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https://archive.org/details/historyofwomansc01spen 


"Our  Dorcas"  at  AVork 


MRS.  MARY  E.  COXGDOX 
Organizer  of  the  State  Union  and 
First  Secretary 


A ^iatorg  nf  tlja 

i/ 

Unmans 

OI4ri0tta«  ©mpmturf 
llutnn 

Norflf^rti  a«&  €?tttral  ffialtfurma 

Written  bg  Sequrat  of  the  ^tatr  CEonor«tio« 
of  1311.  fag 

Mm,  InrraH  iam^s  i>{ifttrtr 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

WEST  COAST  PRINTING  COMPANY 
OAKLAND,  CAL. 


DEDICATION 

To  the  <Tvomen  of  the  rank  and  file, 
this  labor  of  Idhe,  is  tenderly  in- 
scribed. 


Dorcas  J.  Spencer 


PREFi^CE 

To  compile  the  history  of  a society,  covering  less  than  half 
a century,  would  seem  a small  matter,  were  it  not  that  the 
very  nature  of  the  organization  implies  an  individuality  of 
character  in  its  membership,  that  is  rarely  found  elsewhere,  a 
devotion  to  a fixed  principle  and  purpose,  and  a personal 
altruism  as  the  actuating  motive  of  its  existence. 

Some  one  has  said  that  history,  telling  of  achievements, 
must  of  necessity  leave  out  of  the  narrative  the  greater  and 
most  important  portion  of  the  people  concerned,  and  the  high 
lights  be  thrown  only  on  the  smaller  number,  who,  however 
able  and  worthy,  must  have  been  powerless  without  their  fol- 
lowing. This  is  a matter  of  deep  regret  to  the  writer,  whose 
personal  recollection  includes  thousands  of  heroic  women, 
whose  very  names  are  lost  in  the  aggregation  of  time  and 
effort,  that  has  gone  to  make  the  body  and  soul  of  the  Wom- 
an’s Christian  Temperance  Union  of  California. 

The  number  of  those  who  should  be  distinguished  is  be- 
wildering. Two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  women  have 
served  as  state  superintendents,  each  developing  a special  line 
of  study,  many  of  them  successively  in  several  departments ; 
what  an  educational  force,  working  through  local,  county  and 
state  to  national  influence.  Two  hundred  and  thirty  women 
have  been  county  presidents,  each  directing  her  battalion  in 
the  greater  army  of  the  state.  With  organizers  and  other 
special  workers  there  are  fully  five  hundred  who  should  have 
personal  sketches  in  these  pages,  but  all  concede  that  the  work 
is  greater  than  the  workers,  so  no  biographical  attempts  have 
been  made.  All  have  wrought  together,  each  standing  in  her 
place 

“The  lofty  vision  of  triumph,  that  sees  afar  the  end. 

Needs  the  true  unselfish  service  of  the  nameless  toiling 
friend” 

and  it  may  well  be  believed  that  this  unity  of  purpose  and 
action  has  cleared  the  way  for  greater  victories  near. 

“For  the  roads  cannot  be  broken  except  through  the  helping 
hands 


Of  the  nameless  unthanked  toilers  who  do  but  their  lord’s 
commands.” 

The  destruction  by  fire  of  all  the  archives  of  the  state  union, 
made  it  a tedious  process  to  secure  data,  and  only  by  pro- 
longed efforts  and  much  difficulty  has  the  material  been  gath- 
ered for  this  work.  Of  the  Annual  Minutes,  there  are  several 
of  which  it  seemed  hopeless  to  find  a single  copy,  at  last  the 
the  file  of  these  has  been  completed  except  the  very  first,  a tiny 
affair  that  cannot  be  found.  Of  the  Minutes  of  1881,  there  was 
known  to  be  but  one  copy  in  existence ; this  had  been  kept  by 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Congdon,  the  first  secretary,  as  an  heirloom  in 
her  family.  Her  kindness  in  donating  this  is  hereby  gratefully 
acknowledged. 

An  especial  debt  of  gratitude  is  due  to  the  well  beloved  com- 
rade of  so  many  years  and  labors,  Mrs.  Beaumelle  Sturtevant- 
Peet,  whose  systematic  habit  of  preserving  data,  whose  faith- 
ful memory,  and  invaluable  scrap-books  have  been  an  unfail- 
ing resource. 

The  kind  reader  who  does  not  find  in  this  book  all  that  she 
expected,  is  not  less  satisfied  than  the  historian,  who  most 
cordially  thanks  the  whole  sisterhood  for  the  patient  loving 
kindness,  thoughtful  letters,  and  items  of  interest,  that  have 
made  this  long  task  a labor  of  love. 


D.  J.  S. 


CODSTTEISTTS 


Introduction. 

I.  In  the  Beginning.  Local  Organization - 10 

II.  State  Organization.  School  Essays.  Visit  of  Miss  Will- 
ard   18 

III.  Division  of  State.  Movement  for  Constitutional  Prohibi- 

tion. County  Organization 29 

IV.  Incorporation.  Passage  of  Temperance  Education  Law. 

Pacific  Ensign 41 

V.  Success  of  Ensign.  Pacific  Coast  Conference.  The  First 

Dry  County.  Sanitary  District  Law 53 

VI.  Uniform  License  Bill.  Suffrage  Campaign.  Deaths  of 

Miss  Willard,  Gen.  Bidwell  and  Mrs.  Skelton 63 

VII.  Jubilee  Convention.  Congresses.  Earthquake  and  Fire  77 

VIII.  Election  of  Mrs.  Dorr.  Tragic  Death  of  Miss  Kennedy-—  85 

IX.  Purity  Conference.  Red  Light  Bill,  Suffrage  Campaign. 

Victory  92 

X.  Transfer  of  Two  Counties  to  Southern  California.  Red 

Light  Campaign  99 

XL  Young  People’s  Branch.  Loyal  Temperance  Legion 105 

XII.  The  Evolution  of  Departments 108 

XIII.  The  Evolution  of  Departments  (Contniued) 126 

XIV.  Organization.  Pioneer  Work.  Reminiscences 138 

XV.  The  Official  Organ  and  Its  Editors.  Local  Head- 
quarters. Fountains.  Campaigns.  Dry  Ground. 

Benefactors  148 

The  State  W.  C.  T.  U.  Hymn 159 

Declaration  of  Principles 160 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  a pleasant  task  to  write  an  introduction  to  this  book 
which  tells  the  story  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  of  Northern  and  Central  California,  our  part  of  the 
great  organization  of  which,  Mary  A.  Livermore  said,  “So 
grand  in  its  aims,  so  superb  in  its  equipment,  so  phenomenal 
in  its  growth,  and  has  done  so  much  for  woman  as  well  as  for 
temperance,  that  it  challenges  the  attention  of  Christendom 
and  excites  the  hope  of  all  who  are  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
humanity.”  This  organization  has  made  history  in  the  State 
of  California,  and  it  is  the  desire  of  the  workers  of  this  time, 
that  the  record  of  its  earlier  years  shall  be  preserved.  The 
heroic  and  efficient  labors  of  the  noble  women  of  the  past,  who 
hold  such  a large  part  in  the  achievements  of  the  present, 
should  not  be  forgotten. 

Foundations  have  been  laid  broad  and  deep,  and  because  of 
this  fact  we  are  enabled  to  go  on  with  the  building  of  a great 
structure  that  shall  stand  through  all  the  ages. 

The  object  of  the  State  Union  in  having  this  history  writ- 
ten, is  to  give  to  the  women  of  this  time,  with  their  added 
powers,  a sense  of  the  debt  due  to  the  past,  and  their  respon- 
sibility for  the  future.  The  period  covered  by  this  record 
culminates  in  the  enfranchisement  of  women,  a definite  epoch, 
and  the  forerunner  of  an  era  of  yet  more  aggressive  service, 
for  which  the  long  process  of  organization  has  furnished  full 
preparation. 

It  was  conceded  by  all,  that  no  other  woman  was  so  thor- 
oughly equipped  by  ability  and  experience  to  prepare  this  rec- 
ord as  Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer.  She  has  been  continuously 
engaged  in  the  work  from  its  incipiency,  having  filled  various 
responsible  positions,  become  a specialist  in  several  lines  and 
proficient  in  many.  She  lives  in  the  great  past  to  which  she 
has  given  so  much  of  herself;  in  the  present;  and  projects  her- 
self with  the  work  into  the  greater  future ; a woman  who  has 
a vision,  and  whose  love  for  the  work  of  the  Woman’s  Christ- 
ian Temperence  Union  has  been  sufficient  to  make  a pleasure 
of  the  drudgery  of  details,  if  thereby  it  might  be  made  a school 
to  fit  women  for  better  service. 

“We  never  know  for  what  God  is  preparing  us  in  His 
schools  for  what  work  on  earth,  for  what  work  in  the  here- 
after. Our  business  is  to  do  our  work  well  in  the  present 
place,  whatever  it  may  be.” 

SARA  J.  DORR,  President, 
California  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union. 
July  30th,  1913. 


^"Fear  not,  I am  thy  shtelcF 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  GRASS  VALLEY 
Where  the  first  local  union  was  organized,  March  25th,  1 874. 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  PETALUMA 
Where  the  state  union  was  org-anized  September  17th,  187!) 


PIONEERS  ANTEDATING  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF 
THE  STATE  UNION 


MRS.  MARGARET  DTE  ELLIS 
National  Superintendent  of  Legislation 


MRS.  A.  B.  DIBBLE. 


MRS.  EDWARD  COLEMAN 


President  of  Grass  Valley 
local  Union  1874 


Treasurer  Grass  Valley  local 
union  1883 


MRS.  G.  A.  STODDARD 


MRS.  C.  M.  BOALT 


Treasurer  Sacramento  union 
1875 


An  Ohio  crusader,  a Califor- 
nia veteran 


STATE  PRESIDENT 


JIRS.  G.  S.  ABBOTT 
First  President 


CHAPTER  I. 


In  the  Beginning.  Local  Option  Elections.  Local  Organi- 
zation Preceding  That  of  the  State. 

1874. 

Like  narratives  of  individual  lives,  the  story  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  cannot  be  told 
without  considering  the  prenatal  conditions  that  led  to  its 
existence. 

The  temperance  crusade  in  the  Middle  West  marked  the 
beginning  of  an  era  of  great  interest.  The  intensity  and 
rapidity  of  the  movement  can  never  be  realized  by  any  but  the 
generation  that  felt  it.  So  marvelous  were  its  direct  results, 
so  simple  its  methods,  so  lofty  its  aims,  yet  so  profound  the 
depths  it  sounded,  that  the  thought  of  the  whole  country  was 
at  once  arrested.  The  thrill  and  throb  of  its  spiritual  force 
was  felt — sometimes  unconsciously — but  surely  felt  in  every 
condition  of  life  the  land  over.  The  purposes  of  the  serious 
were  intensified ; the  thoughtless  reflected ; public  attention 
was  secured,  new  ideals  and  new  hopes  took  shape ; courage 
and  confidence  grew,  and  a desire  to  do  something  was  every- 
where evident.  Many  states  passed  some  form  of  liquor  laws 
in  that  wonderful  winter,  the  early  months  of  1874.  The 
legislature  of  this  State  enacted  its  first  local  option  law — 
which  even  its  friends  recognized  to  be  sadly  defective.  It 
was  not  expected  to  meet  the  criticism  of  the  Supreme  Court 
and  it  did  not,  being  very  soon  declared  unconstitutional,  but 
it  served  as  many  a better,  but  still  imperfect  enactment,  has 
done,  as  a means  to  agitate  the  subject  and  educate  the  people. 
The  value  of  that  education  has  justified  the  passage  of  a law 
that  was  in  itself  too  weak  to  stand. 

Seeing  its  certain  failure,  there  was  hesitation  in  calling 
elections  under  its  provisions.  Many  small  towns  tried  it ; 
besides  the  cities  of  Eureka,  San  Jose  and  Oakland.  The 
latter,  the  largest  of  these,  cast  309  votes,  of  which  201  were 
against  license,  and  108  for  it,  but  legally  it  counted  for  noth- 
ing. 

The  new  law  was  immediately  submitted  to  the  test  of 


10 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


the  courts,  and  pending  their  decision,  no  attempt  was  made 
anywhere  to  carry  it  out,  though  majorities  favored  it. 

Alameda  Election. 

The  election  in  Alameda,  July  2nd,  was  the  scene  of  a dis- 
graceful riot.  After  the  Oakland  election  the  liquor  men  were 
desperate.  There  was  in  Alameda  a well  organized  Temper- 
ance Association,  conducting  its  campaign  well  and  vigor- 
ously. On  election  day  they  had  a spacious  tent  near  the 
street,  handsomely  decorated  with  flags,  evergreens  and 
flowers,  where  an  elegant  collation  was  spread  for  their 
friends,  who  made  it  a rallying  place.  Both  sides  began  early 
to  distribute  tickets  and  solicit  votes.  Soon  a train  load  of 
rowdies  from  the  “Barbary  Coast”  of  San  Francisco  arrived, 
and  literally  took  the  town.  As  the  villainous  looking  crowd 
poured  out  of  the  cars,  a gentleman  present  exclaimed : “This 
is  the  vomit  of  hell.”  They  filled  the  street  with  an  irregular 
march  back  and  forth,  led  by  a brass  band,  and  full  of  whiskey, 
howled  and  shouted  in  coarse  ribaldry  and  gross  insolence. 
Miss  Sally  Hart,  an  able  and  attractive  young  woman,  whose 
activity  had  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  the  Oakland 
election,  had  been  notified,  by  the  leader  of  the  mob,  a prom- 
inent saloon-keeper  of  Oakland,  that  she  would  not  be  safe 
on  the  street.  His  words  proved  true.  She  was  pulled  about, 
spit  upon,  her  bonnet  pulled  off,  and  her  clothes  outrageously 
torn,  before  she  could  be  rescued  by  friends.  Dr.  W.  P.  Gib- 
bons took  her  to  his  home.  A gentle  lady  of  sixty  was  sur- 
rounded by  a howling  mob  and  most  grossly  insulted  by  a 
German.  She  sprang  upon  a box  and  cried  out : “I  am  an 
American,”  only  to  be  answered  in  language  unprintably  vile. 
Mr.  Joseph  Knowland,  pale  and  excited,  took  her  away  from 
the  midst  of  the  drunken  men  who  were  brandishing  pistols 
around  her.  Other  ladies,  victims  of  similar  outrages,  were 
rescued  by  friends  before  the  Oakland  police,  summoned  by 
telegraph,  could  reach  the  scene.  The  hoodlums  fled  back  to 
the  city. 

The  Alameda  police  were  in  sympathy  with  the  temperance 
workers  but  were  helpless.  When  all  was  over  the  Chief  of 
Police  said:  “We  are  defeated,  but  the  best  people  are  with 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


11 


The  day  was  not  lost,  for  it  served  to  consecrate  to  the  cause 
a life  than  which  none  greater  has  been  laid  upon  its  altars — 
that  of  Margaret  Dye  Ellis,  now,  and  for  many  years  past,  the 
National  Superintendent  of  Eegislation  and  Petitions, — the 
woman  who  more  than  any  other  has  directed  the  course  of 
the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  in  its  efforts  to 
secure  better  laws  for  the  nation. 

Mrs.  Ellis  writes : “I  was  one  who  worked  at  the  polls  that 
day.  We  had  held  prayer  meetings  several  days;  some  of  us 
visited  saloons,  and  on  that  day  the  liquor  men  of  San  Fran- 
cisco sent  a train  load  of  roughs  to  intimidate  ‘those  women’ 
but  it  only  made  us  stronger,  and  from  that  day  I have  been 
in  the  work,  and  look  back  to  it  as  one  when  I received  my 
baptism  for  the  service.” 

The  other  election  of  that  day,  at  Grass  Valley,  was  also  a 
triumphant  defeat.  Only  these  two  elections  of  that  summer 
became  historic, — the  first  in  bringing  Mrs.  Ellis  into  per- 
manent relations  with  the  Cause,  and  the  second  with  the 
organization  of  the  first  local  union. 

The  First  Local  Union. 

At  that  time  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  shores  seemed  more 
distant  from  each  other  than  now,  with  the  present  easier  and 
more  rapid  communication ; but  remote  as  it  was  the  echoes 
of  the  crusade  in  the  East  were  heard,  and  the  glow  of  its  fires 
felt  in  California.  To  the  minds  of  men  it  was  wonderful;  to 
women  it  was  divinely  miraculous.  Eagerly  they  scanned  the 
meager  news  brought  by  the  daily  press.  In  the  mountain 
towns  the  mails  arrived  late  at  night;  the  men  might  see  the 
papers  then,  but  busy  women  could  not  until  the  next  day. 
One  of  these,  as  soon  as  her  children  were  off  to  school,  used 
daily  to  cross  the  street  to  discuss  the  crusade  news  with  her 
neighbor  until  as  the  winter  drew  near  its  close,  their  hearts 
so  burned  within  them  that  expression  forced  itself,  and  they 
agreed  to  call  a mass  meeting  of  women.  One  of  them  wrote 
notices,  the  other  took  them  to  printers  and  preachers,  and, 
because  neither  of  them  belonged  to  the  Congregational 
church,  the  meeting  was  called  there  March  25th,  1874.  It 
was  well  attended,  a society  was  organized,  and  by  prophetic 
inspiration  it  was  called  “The  Woman’s  Temperance  Union.” 


12 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Mrs.  A.  B.  Dibble  and  Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer,  the  two  who 
had  called  the  meeting,  were  elected  respectively  president  and 
secretary.  There  was  nothing  remarkable  about  this  Union 
but  its  pledge — in  its  allusion  to  their  homes, — and  that  did 
not  seem  so  then. 

Pledge:  “We  hereby  solemnly  promise  to  abstain  from  all 
intoxicating  liquors,  distilled  or  fermented,  including  wine, 
beer  and  cider,  as  a beverage,  and  we  will  not  have  them  in  our 
homes  if  it  is  in  our  power  to  prevent  it.” 

That  pledge  involved  a heroism  no  less  than  that  which  had 
led  their  eastern  sisters  to  pray  in  saloons  or  on  the  streets ; 
for  in  many  of  their  houses  stood  well-stocked  sideboards,  or 
the  less  pretentious  corner  cup-board  with  its  staples,  whiskey 
and  wine.  It  is  worthy  of  record  that  the  carrying  out  of  that 
pledge  in  no  case  caused  any  domestic  friction. 

The  Union  adopted  the  general  methods  which  have  since 
prevailed,  and  soon  entered  upon  a Local  Option  Campaign, 
and  instead  of  a weekly  meeting  held  a prayer  meeting  in  a 
church  every  night,  Sundays  excepted,  for  twelve  weeks,  cul- 
minating with  the  election  of  July  second. 

The  Local  Option  Campaign  of  1874  had  no  precedent.  The 
women  took  their  own  initiative.  Canvassing  for  signers  to 
the  necessary  petition  was  done  entirely  by  women,  but  they 
did  not  always  escape  the  attentions  that  the  men  no  doubt 
apprehended.  The  secretary  of  the  union  was  one  day  fol- 
lowed into  a quiet  street,  by  a leading  saloon-keeper,  who  de- 
manded to  see  her  petition.  Looking  it  carefully  over  to  see 
who  had  signed  it,  he  said  in  a very  angry  tone,  “Madam,  this 
is  a game  two  can  play  at.  You  are  trying  to  break  up  my 
business,  I shall  return  the  compliment  and  break  up  your 
husband’s.  You’ll  see.”  Of  course  she  told  her  husband.  His 
reply  was,  “Let  him  try  it.”  The  boycott  began  but  whatever 
effect  it  had,  was  in  the  nature  of  a boomerang. 

Campaigning. 

Those  daily  prayer-meetings  were  a source  of  power  in 
many  ways.  The  women  were  building  better  than  they 
knew.  Not  only  their  religious  zeal  was  sustained,  but  latent 
ability  was  developed,  their  acquaintance  widened,  and  a pub- 
licity was  given  to  their  movements  that  created  a general 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


13 


interest  in  each  day’s  proceedings,  and  a growing  importance. 
Each  evening  a leader  was  appointed  to  conduct  the  next 
meeting.  Not  all  had  been  accustomed  to  duties  of  this  kind, 
but  no  one  flinched.  Yet  it  was  felt  that  something  special 
must  be  done  to  focus  attention.  Rev.  George  Newton  was  a 
new  man  in  the  community,  in  full  sympathy,  but  nearly  a 
stranger.  He  made  the  wild  suggestion  that  “You  must  have 
a public  speech  by  one  of  your  own  women.”  He  was  told  that 
possibly  Mrs.  Spencer  might  be  able  to  find  a woman  to  ven- 
ture it.  She  tried  in  vain,  but  found  a lady  willing  to  read  a 
paper  if  it  was  prepared  for  her.  Accordingly  she  wrote  the 
desired  paper.  Her  husband,  coming  in  before  she  had  finished, 
asked:  “What  are  you  doing?”  She  replied:  “Don’t  bother  me, 
just  read  it  while  I finish,  and  I’ll  tell  you.”  On  hearing  that  she 
was  writing  an  address  for  another  woman  to  read,  he  said : 
“You  are  a little  goose,  go  do  it  yourself.” 

She  was  amazed,  for  even  the  attendance  and  participation 
in  the  regular  meetings  had  seemed  to  her  so  bold  a thing,  that 
she  had  half  expected  him  at  any  time  to  say,  “I  think  this  has 
gone  about  far  enough,  you’d  better  drop  out.”  However,  she 
dared  not  refuse  what  she  recognized  as  a call  higher  than  his, 
to  go  forward,  and  the  next  morning  when  Mr.  Newton  called 
to  know  what  her  success  had  been,  she  timidly  told  him, 
under  the  seal  of  absolute  confidence,  for  they  must  depend 
on  the  curiosity  of  the  people, — to  see  who  the  woman  was 
who  would  thus  face  public  criticism, — to  secure  an  audience. 
Mr.  Newton  advertised  well,  through  pulpits  and  press,  that  “a 
lady  of  this  town  would  address  a mass-meeting  at  the  Meth- 
odist Church  on  Wednesday  evening.  May  28th.”  Mr.  Spencer 
came  home  daily  in  the  quiet  hour  when  the  youngest  was 
asleep,  and  the  other  children  at  school,  and  patiently  drilled 
his  wife,  from  his  post  at  the  front  door,  to  her’s  in  the  kitchen, 
to  say  her  little  piece  audibly  at  that  distance.  On  the  ap- 
pointed evening  it  was  delivered  before  an  audience  of  800.  It 
was  well  received,  and  published  in  full  in  the  Sunday  morning 
papers.  Whether  it  served  its  intended  purpose  or  not,  this 
deponent  cannot  say,  but  it  was  not  fruitless.  It  was  in  the 
course  of  Mr.  Spencer’s  duties  to  call  at  the  stage  office  on  the 
arrival  of  every  stage  from  “above  or  below”  on  the  mountain 
roads.  The  stage  office  was  also  the  bar-room  of  the  principal 


14 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


hotel,  and  a general  resort  of  men  who  desired  to  meet  each 
other.  As  a customary  social  observance  there  was  much 
treating  with  very  little  thought,  in  the  place.  When  Mr. 
Spencer  next  entered  the  office  conversation  stopped,  and  he 
was  conscious  that  his  wife  was  its  subject.  There  were 
forty-five  other  saloons  in  the  town  no  doubt  similarly  en- 
gaged. That  experience  caused  an  arrest  of  thought,  on  his 
part  which  made  him  a total  abstainer.  To  his  wife,  that  came 
so  distinctly  as  a reward  for  her  response  to  that  special  call 
so  shrinkingly  done,  as  to  place  her  under  perpetual  obliga- 
tion to  answer  every  call  for  service,  even  to  the  preparation 
of  this  history. 

Public  Meetings. 

To  women  of  those  days,  it  was  a deed  of  daring,  even  to  sit 
on  a platform,  and  to  undertake  a mass  meeting  without  ever 
a man  in  it,  was  the  wildest  scheme  yet  concocted.  Mrs.  Abi- 
gail Scott  Dunniway  had  once  been  there,  but  had  all  the  min- 
isters in  town  on  the  platform  behind  her.  These  women  hav- 
ing organized  since  then,  felt  that  they  must  live  up  to  the 
requirements  of  the  occasion.  Mrs.  Dunniway  had  scandalized 
some  by  appearing  without  a bonnet.  It  was  gravely  settled 
that  bonnets  should  be  worn,  so  with  their  broad  ribbon 
strings  tied  under  their  chins,  five  women  took  their  places. 
The  president,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Dibble,  being  a Methodist,  was 
used  to  hear  a woman’s  voice  in  prayer  meeting  and  probably 
suffered  less  than  the  others  from  the  strangeness  of  the  posi- 
tion. Mrs.  Norton,  a Mother  in  Israel,  from  the  Congrega- 
tional church,  read  the  Scripture  lesson.  Mrs.  Taylor,  a sweet 
young  woman  from  the  Christian  church,  heroically  led  in 
prayer;  she  had  memorized  her  petition,  but  forgot  her  lines 
and  went  bravely  on ; the  speaker  was  an  Episcopalian.  Mrs. 
Wesley  Peck,  the  wife  of  the  presiding  elder,  whose  presence 
was  felt  to  dignify  the  occasion,  offered  the  closing  prayer. 
The  audience  that  had  largely  come  to  see  “who  would  do 
this  thing,”  gave  breathless  attention,  and  showed  its  sym- 
pathy by  the  heartiness’  of  the  congregational  singing,  but 
nevertheless  was  amazed  to  find  that  these  modest  home-lov- 
ing women  could  venture  on  a proceeding  so  bold,  for  a prin- 
ciple they  wished  to  promote. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


15 


This  incident  is  of  interest  only  as  it  illustrates  the  condi- 
tions of  the  time  and  the  ways  by  which  women  entered  upon 
a work  that  meant  so  much.  It  is  typical  of  many  others  in 
different  localities. 

Election  Day. 

As  the  election  day  approached,  the  saloon  men,  presuming 
that  blue  ribbon  would  be  required  for  badges,  bought  all  there 
was  in  town.  A friendly  merchant  informed  the  secretary  of 
the  enemy’s  move,  and  forthwith  the  women  secured  all  the 
red  ribbon,  of  which  they  made  badges  bearing  the  legend : 
“WOMAN’S  TEMPERANCE  UNION;  In  God  We  Trust.” 
They  had  not  thought  of  badges,  but  once  suggested,  that 
bright  oriflamme  blazed  upon  the  streets  from  morning  until 
night  of  that  memorable  day. 

A most  enthusiastic  jubilee  meeting  was  held  in  the  even- 
ing, which 

“RESOLVED : That  whatever  the  result  of  the  election 
to-day,  we  do  reaffirm  our  intention,  come  what  will  of  diffic- 
ulty or  obstacle ; and  are  determined  to  continue  the  conflict 
against  the  great  evil,  the  liquor  traffic,  until  our  God,  in  whom 
we  trust,  shall  give  us  victory.” 

In  gratitude  for  their  aid  during  the  campaign,  the  Union 
voted  to  admit  men  to  membership ; the  plan  did  not  work 
well,  however.  The  meetings  fell  off  in  attendance  and  were 
at  last  suspended,  subject  to  the  call  of  the  president. 

This  union  was  supposed  by  Miss  Willard  to  be  the  very 
first  organized  and  enjoyed  that  distinction  until  the  State 
of  New  York  proved  to  have  one  at  Fredonia  a trifle  earlier, 
to  which  the  honor  has  been  conceded. 

In  1878,  after  the  National  Union  was  well  established,  and 
its  influence  felt,  a meeting  was  called,  at  which  t-he  word 
“Christian”  was  inserted  in  the  old  name,  and  regular  work 
resumed. 

1875. 

Organization  at  Sacramento. 

The  National  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  was 
organized  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  November,  1874.  Mrs.  G.  A. 
Stoddard  came  to  California  the  following  year,  and  filled 
with  enthusiasm,  began  talking  of  it  in  Sacramento,  with  the 


16 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


result  that  a union  was  organized  there  in  December  with 
Mrs.  M.  C.  Briggs,  President;  Mrs.  Rice,  mother  of  Rev.  H.  H. 
Rice,  Vice  President;  Mrs.  W.  H.  Mills,  Secretary,  and  Mrs. 
G.  A.  Stoddard,  Treasurer.  Mrs.  Stoddard,  already  familiar 
with  the  subject,  wrote  the  constitution  for  the  new  society, 
which  held  its  meetings  in  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church. 

In  the  “Sacramento  Union”  of  December  24th,  1875,  Rev.  M. 
C.  Briggs,  D.  D.,  writes:  “Here  comes  the  National  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  the  most  potential  temperance 
organization  ever  formed,  of  which  California  will  soon  have 
a state  auxiliary,  with  subordinate  unions  in  every  Congres- 
sional district.” 

This  was  four  years  before  there  was  a state  union.  After  a 
while  the  local  union  lapsed.  Of  its  officers,  Mrs.  Stoddard  only 
remains  and  is  now  treasurer  of  the  local  union  at  Sacra- 
mento. 

1877-1878 

Organization  at  Petaluma. 

The  year  1878  was  one  of  deep  feeling  on  temperance.  The 
Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars  was  very  active  and  did 
excellent  work  throughout  the  State,  particularly  among 
young  people,  and  in  many  places,  other  less  permanent  socie- 
ties sprang  up;  some  were  “Reform  Clubs,”  and  some  “Tem- 
perance Unions,”  with  membership  of  men  and  women.  Peta- 
luma became  a center  of  activity ; Mr.  G.  W.  Bain,  of  Ken- 
tucky, made  an  eloquent  address  there.  Dr.  Dio  Lewis  spoke 
there  on  November  29th,  1877,  and,  as  he  had  done  elsewhere, 
prepared  the  way  for  the  women.  About  this  time — probably 
due  to  his  influence — a Temperance  Union  of  men  and  women 
was  formed  and  began  the  work  of  pledge  signing.  With 
monthly  meetings  they  had  three  hundred  signers  to  the 
pledge  in  February,  and  after  that  they  held  public  meetings, 
with  good  programs,  every  Saturday  night,  in  the  Opera 
House.  Women  had  not  then  reached  the  platform  as 
speakers,  but  contributed  the  charm  of  music.  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Congdon,  a teacher  of  music,  was  the  first  woman  to  speak  at 
these  meetings,  and  in  December,  1878,  the  society  invited 
Mrs.  Emily  Pitts  Stevens  to  Petaluma.  She  had  lectured 
with  success  for  the  Sons  of  Temperance  and  the  Good  Tern- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


17 


plars.  On  this  occasion  she  addressed  a mass  meeting  of  chil- 
dren in  the  Methodist  church  on  a Sunday  afternoon,  and  on 
Monday  organized  a “Band  of  Hope;”  on  Monday  and  Tues- 
day evenings  lectured  in  the  Congregational  church  and  on 
Tuesday  afternoon  organized  a local  “Woman’s  Christian 
Temperance  Union,”  with  Mrs.  Congdon  as  president.  That 
Union  has  a splendid  record.  Beginning  with  twenty  members 
it  soon  had  eighty,  and  in  six  months  one  hundred  and  ten.  Its 
first  work  was  petitioning  for  license  to  be  raised  to  $100  a 
quarter.  They  had  the  co-operation  of  all  the  best  elements  of 
the  town,  and  as  a result  of  their  labors,  forty-two  of  the 
eighty-four  saloons  of  the  town,  and  the  bars  of  two  hotels 
were  closed.  Petaluma  thereby  became  the  first  town  in  Cali- 
fornia distinguished  by  temperance  success.  The  newspapers 
made  it  famous.  It  was  unique. 

The  association  of  liquor  and  tobacco  had  not  been  exploited 
then  as  it  has  in  later  years,  but  a testimony  to  its  relationship 
was  given  by  a traveling  salesman  in  the  tobacco  trade,  who 
said  to  the  writer ; “Do  you  know  what  those  temperance  peo- 
ple in  Petaluma  have  done  to  my  business?  I went  there  on 
my  quarterly  rounds,  collected  as  usual,  and  sold  the  usual 
supplies  to  the  trade.  On  the  next  trip  I made  no  collections 
worth  while  and  sold  no  goods  to  speak  of.  The  fact  is,  when 
they  don’t  get  one  of  these  things,  they  care  very  little  for  the 
other.” 

The  Union  met  weekly,  raised  money  by  chicken  dinners 
and  strawberry  festivals  to  help  the  Reform  Club,  Band  of 
Hope  and  Juvenile  Reform  Club.  Hearing  that  the  Reform 
Club  of  Carson  City,  Nevada,  was  to  have  a five  days’  fair,  the 
Union  expressed  to  them  every  day  a large  box  of  flowers,  the 
first  Flower  Mission  work. 

A notable  and  successful  effort  was  made  to  stop  a lewd 
exhibition  which  prevented  similar  shows  coming  to  Petaluma. 

Mr.  William  O.  Clark,  Chief  Patriarch  of  the  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance, was  one  of  their  speakers,  and  gave  a most  interest- 
ing talk  on  the  proposed  Local  Option  Law ; — at  this  writing 
he  still  lives  and  is  devoted  to  the  cause. 

Department  work  was  unknown,  but  the  visiting  commit- 
tees seemed  to  include  all  phases  of  possible  effort,  and  noth- 
ing was  overlooked. 


CHAPTER  II. 


State  Organization.  School  Essays.  Visit  of  Miss  Willard. 

1879. 

In  the  early  summer  of  1879  a Sunday  School  Convention 
was  called  in  Oakland,  with  Bishop  Vincent  to  preside.  The 
Bishop  went  to  Yosemite  first,  and  failed  to  reach  Oakland  in 
time  to  open  the  Convention.  The  crowd  must  be  held,  so  it 
was  managed,  with  little  effort,  to  turn  the  affair  into  a very 
effective  Temperance  Meeting,  with  good  volunteer  speakers 
and  an  enthusiastic  audience.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Congdon  was  one 
of  the  speakers,  and  deeply  interested  her  hearers  by  her  ac- 
count of  the  recent  temperance  work  at  Petaluma.  Rev.  G.  S. 
Abbott  and  wife  were  also  present,  and  recognized  the  woman 
who  was  to  organize  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  California.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Abbott,  who  had  recently  arrived  from  the  East,  had 
been  charged  by  Miss  Willard  to  see  that  California  was  or- 
ganized. When  they  met  Mrs.  Congdon  they  at  once  decided, 
and  so  reported  that  she  was  the  very  woman  to  undertake 
that  work.  Very  shortly  after  Mrs.  Congdon  received  her 
official  commission  from  Miss  Frances  E.  Willard,  then  Cor- 
responding Secretary  of  the  National  Organization. 

State  Convention. 

With  this  authority,  she  began  at  once  to  lay  plans.  Existing 
Unions  were  found  in  Grass  Valley,  Nevada  City  and  Peta- 
luma. A strong  one  was  organized  in  April,  at  Oakland,  an- 
other in  Alameda,  and  by  much  canvassing  one  was  secured 
in  San  Francisco.  Mrs.  Congdon  then  issued  a call  through 
the  papers  for  a State  convention  to  meet  at  Petaluma,  Sept. 
17th.  Responding  to  this  call,  twenty  women  came  from  Ala- 
meda, Grass  Valley,  Nevada  City,  Oakland  and  Santa  Rosa. 
Owing  to  illness  of  the  delegate,  San  Francisco  was  not  rep- 
resented. The  Convention  began  with  a prayer  service  of  half 
an  hour,  led  by  Mrs.  S.  B.  Sadler,  of  Oakland.  Mrs.  G.  S. 
Abbott  took  the  chair,  with  Miss  Belle  Jenkins,  of  Santa  Rosa, 
as  Secretary.  Committees  were  appointed,  and  the  objects  of 
the  meeting  solemnly  discussed.  The  afternoon  session  also 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


19 


opened  by  a half  hour  of  prayer,  led  by  Mrs.  G.  T.  Allen,  of 
Petaluma,  Mrs.  Abbott  presiding. 

The  constitution  as  recommended  by  the  committee  was 
adopted. 

PREAMBLE. 

WHEREAS,  Intemperance,  with  its  fearful  resulting  evils,  is  on 
the  increase  in  the  State  of  California,  and  whereas,  woman  is  and  al- 
ways has  been  the  greatest  sufferer  from  this  vice,  which  invades  her 
home  and  destroys  her  loved  ones;  and  whereas,  in  our  land  God  has 
signally  blessed  the  efforts  to  reclaim  the  inebriate  and  suppress  the 
infamous  traffic  in  intoxicating  liquors,  therefore. 

We,  the  undersigned,  women  of  California,  covenant  with  one 
another  in  a sacred  and  enduring  compact  against  the  wicked  sale  of 
alcoholic  stimulants,  under  whatsoever  name  or  form  it  may  be  con- 
ducted, and,  although  sanctioned  by  law,  we  pledge  ourselves  now  to 
work  for  such  a change  in  those  laws  as  will  give  us  power  to  reclaim 
the  fallen,  to  prevent  the  young  from  contracting  tastes  and  habits 
that  will  eventuate  in  drunkenness;  and  for  the  creation  of  a high 
moral  and  religious  sentiment  in  favor  of  total  abstinence  from  all 
that  can  intoxicate. 

For  this  purpose,  invoking  the  blessing  and  guidance  of  Almighty 
God,  who  would  free  our  beloved  land  from  a most  potent  cause  of 
crime,  pauperism,  waste  and  general  demoralization,  we  agree  to 
govern  ourselves  by  the  following: 

CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  1. 

This  Association  shall  be  called  the  WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN 
TEMPERANCE  UNION  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

ARTICLE  II. 

The  officers  of  this  Union  shall  consist  of  a President,  Vice-Presi- 
dents, Secretary,  Treasurer  and  Auditor,  who  shall  respectively  per- 
form the  duties  devolving  upon  such  officers,  and  who,  together  with 
eleven  others  chosen  annually,  shall  constitute  an  Executive  Com- 
mittee with  full  powers  to  carry  forward  the  general  work  of  the 
Union,  and  to  fill  all  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  their  committee. 

ARTICLE  III. 

One  or  more  Vice-Presidents  shall  be  chosen  from  each  county,  who 
shall  supervise  the  work  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  within  the  bounds  of  the  county  for  which  they  are  appointed, 
and  one  of  whom  shall  preside  at  all  conventions  held  therein. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

These  Vice-Presidents  may  organize  auxiliary  societies,  arrange  for 
public  meetings,  devise  plans  of  work  and  take  measures  for  the 


20 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


thorough  canvass  of  the  territory  of  said  counties,  submitting  such 
plans  and  arrangements  to  the  State  Secretary  for  the  approval  of  the 
Executive  Committee. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  Executive  Committee,  together  with  the  Vice-Presidents  of 
the  several  counties,  shall  constitute  a Board  of  Management,  who 
shall  meet  every  three  months  for  mutual  counsel  concerning  the 
work  of  the  State.  The  date  of  those  quarterly  meetings  shall  be 
fixed  by  the  Executive  Committee.  Any  Vice-President  unable  to 
attend  the  quarterly  meeting  shall  submit  a written  report  of  work  in 
her  county;  upon  failure  at  two  consecutive  meetings  to  render  such 
report  her  office  shall  be  declared  vacant,  and  said  vacancy  filled  by 
appointment  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Regular  meetings  of  the  Executive  Committee  for  the  transaction 
of  business  shall  be  held  quarterly.  Special  meetings  of  the  Executive 
Committee  shall  be  subject  to  the  call  of  the  Secretary.  Special 
meetings  of  the  State  Union  may  be  called  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee, or  on  the  written  request  of  the  Secretaries  of  five  local 
Unions. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  Executive  Committee  shall  appoint  three  persons  from  their 
own  body  to  act  as  a Committee  on  Finance,  upon  whom  shall  de- 
volve the  responsibility  of  raising  funds. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys,  keeping  proper  books  of 
account,  and  shall  make  such  disposition  of  the  funds  as  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  shall  direct,  each  order  of  the  Committee  being 
signed  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Finance. 

ARTICLE  IX  . 

Each  auxiliary  must  adopt  the  local  constitution  provided  by  the 
National  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union;  may  make  its  own 
by-laws,  regulate  its  meetings  and  those  of  its  Executive  Committee, 
and  transact  any  other  business  which  may  be  deemed  necessary  to 
the  efficiency  of  the  Union,  not  inconsistent  with  the  constitution  of 
the  State  Union.  Any  local  Union  may  become  auxiliary  to  the  State 
Union  by  payment  of  25  cents  for  each  member  (yearly). 

ARTICLE  X. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  State  Union  shall  be  held  on  the  Wed- 
nesday and  Thursday  of  the  first  week  in  September,  at  the  call  of 
the  Executive  Committee.  At  that  time  the  election  of  officers  for 
the  ensuing  year  shall  take  place, — the  President  and  Secretary  being 
chosen  by  ballot,  and  all  officers  as  the  State  Convention  may  decide. 

ARTICLE  XL 

Five  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  constitute  a 


quorum. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


21 


ARTICLE  XII. 

This  Constitution  may  be  amended  by  a vote  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present  at  any  annual  meeting  of  the  Union,  notice  of  the 
same  having  been  given  a year  previous. 

The  following  officers  were  elected : President,  Mrs.  G.  S. 
Abbott;  Vice  President,  Mrs.  John  A.  McNear;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Congdon;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Wm.  Elder;  Auditor, 
Dr.  Annette  Buckel. 

Executive  Committee. 

The  above  officers  and  Mrs.  H.  M.  Lewis,  Mrs.  Dr.  Cox- 
head,  Mrs.  William  Hill,  Mrs.  G.  F.  Allen,  Mrs.  P.  D.  Browne, 
Mrs.  A.  P.  Whitney,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Hill,  Mrs.  Thomas  Gilbert, 
Mrs.  Van  Slyke,  Mrs.  J.  G.  Wickersham,  and  Mrs.  H.  P. 
Brainard. 

Of  this  Executive  Committee  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Congdon,  Mrs. 
William  Hill,  Mrs.  John  A.  McNear,  Mrs.  A.  P.  Whitney,  and 
Mrs.  H.  P.  Brainard  survive,  and  are  still  interested  in,  and 
contributing  to  the  work. 

RESOLUTIONS. 

RESOLVED:  That  the  members  of  this  Convention  recognizing 
that  their  call  to  Temperance  work  is  from  God,  desire  to  express 
the  conviction  of  their  utter  dependence  upon  Him  for  all  needed 
wisdom  and  strength. 

RESOLVED:  That  since  it  is  easier  to  prevent  than  to  cure,  that 
we  urge  upon  our  Union  the  importance  of  organizing  and  sustaining 
juvenile  temperance  societies,  and  by  every  available  means  commit 
the  youth  of  our  land,  both  by  profession  and  practice,  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  total  abstinence. 

RESOLVED:  That  believing  that  no  legislation  can  make  that 
right  which  is  wrong  in  itself,  and  asserting  that  whosoever  is  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits  is  guilty  of  crime  against  society, 
we  do  hereby  protest  against  the  legalizing  of  the  liquor  traffic,  and 
call  upon  women  to  petition,  pray,  and  work  until  the  license  law 
shall  be  repealed. 

RESOLVED:  That  believing  the  use  of  tobacco  an  evil,  and  evil 
only  in  its  effects,  poisoning  the  system  and  corrupting  both  morals 
and  manners,  leading  to  and  fostering  an  appetite  for  strong  drink, 
we  think  it  our  duty  to  express  our  deprecation*  of  the  growing  ten- 
dency to  use  tobacco  in  any  form,  and  to  labor  earnestly  for  a wider 
circulation  of  the  Anti-Tobacco  pledge. 

RESOLVED:  That  the  women  of  this  Union  consecrate  not  only 
their  hearts,  their  hands  and  their  money  to  the  work  of  Temperance, 
but  if  need  be  their  voices  also. 

The  Secretary  added  to  this  report:  “Thus  closed  our  first  State 


22 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Convention,  and  we  intend  to  hold  one  yearly,  until  alcohol  is  ban- 
ished from  our  land.”  There  was  an  evening  session,  with  speeches 
by  the  men  and  music  by  the  women. 

Greetings,  as  follows,  were  sent  by  the  Woman’s  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  to  the  Methodist  Conference  at  San  Jose,  and  the 
Congregational  Association  at  San  Francisco: 

“Christian  Greeting: — 

“We  would  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Lord,  by  his 
Holy  Spirit,  is  leading  many  women  to  obey  his  call  in  doing  whatso- 
ever He  leads  them  to  do;  to  care  for  the  degraded,  to  rescue  the 
perishing,  and  to  try  to  prvent  our  children  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  destroyer. 

“We  ask  that  you  recognize  our  mission,  and  recommend  that  the 
churches  under  you,  take  an  interest  in  the  whole  subject  of  Temper- 
ance, and  especially  in  the  introduction  of  its  principles  among  chil- 
dren and  youth.” 

1880. 

The  records  of  the  first  year  are  meager,  but  sufficient  to 
prove  that  the  new  Union  was  well  officered.  Mrs.  Abbott, 
though  hampered  with  other  work,  proved  a wise  and  able 
president.  Early  in  the  year  another  Convention  was  held  at 
Alameda,  and  in  February  the  Executive  Committee  appointed 
standing  committees  on  Literature,  Press,  and  Juvenile  work. 

Second  Convention. 

The  annual  Convention  met  at  the  First  Congregational 
Church,  Oakland,  Sept.  2nd,  1880,  the  President,  Mrs.  G.  S. 
Abbott  presiding,  who,  after  the  devotional  opening,  made  a 
happy  address.  The  Treasurer  reported  receipts  and  expenses 
for  the  year,  $35.00. 

Thirteen  delegates  from  six  unions  were  present.  Ten 
Unions  were  reported.  The  Secretary,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Congdon, 
was  Chairman  of  the  Press  Committee,  and  at  once  secured 
space  in  six  denominational  papers,  and  during  the  year  sent 
original  articles  more  or  less  frequently  to  all  of  them,  also  to 
several  secular  papers.  New  Unions  were  organized  at  San 
Jose,  Salinas,  Sheep  Ranch  and  Placerville.  The  Union  at 
Santa  Rosa  lost  its  identity  by  combining  with  another  society. 
Berkeley  and  Sonora  were  organized  after  the  convention. 

The  admirable  report  of  the  Secretary  closes  with  practical 
recommendations  for  the  coming  year:  1.  As  a State  Society, 
hold  Conventions  often;  2.  Appoint  County  Presidents;  3. 
Hold  Executive  meetings  quarterly;  4.  National  dues  should 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


23 


be  paid ; 5.  Appoint  Press  Committee  for  each  religious  paper ; 
6.  Officers  to  preside  at  all  meetings,  public  and  private, — 
each  meeting  to  be  preceded  by  a prayer  meeting;  7.  All 
members  should  subscribe  for  “Our  Union,”  the  National  Or- 
gan ; 8.  Build  on  a sound  financial  basis.  Each  Union  should 
try  to  organize  a new  one  in  its  vicinity,  and  soon,  if  we  pray 
for  a fund,  work  for  a fund,  and  believe  we  shall  have  a fund, 
it  will  be  within  our  reach. 

Mrs.  Abbott  declined  to  serve  another  year,  and  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected ; President,  Mrs.  P.  D.  Browne, 
Oakland;  Vice  Presidents,  Mrs.  G.  S.  Abbott,  Oakland;  Mrs. 
John  McNear,  Petaluma;  Mrs.  M.  A.  Nash,  Santa  Rosa;  Mrs. 
D.  J.  Spencer,  Grass  Valley;  Miss  Sarah  P.  Morrison,  San 
Jose;  Mrs.  J.  B.  Hill,  Alameda;  Secretary,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Cong- 
don,  Petaluma;  Assistant,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Havens,  Oakland; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  I.  G.  Wickersham,  Petaluma. 

The  recommendations  of  the  Secretary  were  adopted  and 
two  more  committees  added, — one  for  Sunday  Schools  and 
one  for  Presenting  the  Work  to  Influential  Bodies. 

University. 

It  was  resolved  to  appeal  to  the  Regents  and  Faculty  of  the 
State  University  to  enforce  the  law  that  no  liquor  shall  be 
sold  within  two  miles  of  that  institution. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  this  appeal,  the  first  that  gave 
expression  to  the  solicitude  of  women  for  the  moral  interests 
of  the  State  University  has  in  different  forms  been  continuous 
ever  since. 

The  resolution  provoking  most  discussion,  and  which  was 
finally  adopted,  was  to  the  effect  that  all  meetings  should  be 
presided  over  by  their  presidents, — some  holding  that  it  was 
unfeminine  for  a woman  to  preside  at  a public  meeting.  The 
new  president  would  not  pledge  herself  to  do  so,  or  consent  to 
sit,  at  the  day  session,  on  the  platform, — although  said  plat- 
form (which  was  that  of  the  Sunday  School  room)  was  raised 
but  one  step  above  the  floor!  Rev.  J.  K.  McLean,  pastor  of 
the  church,  presided  at  the  evening  session,  to  spare  the  presi- 
dent’s feelings. 

This  incident  is  given  to  illustrate  the  ideas  of  that  time. 
Mrs.  Browne’s  views  changed,  however,  and  she  afterwards 


24 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


became  a most  successful  presiding  officer  and  a fine  platform 
speaker,  distinguished  for  her  fluency  and  readiness  of  speech. 

1881. 

Second  Convention. 

The  second  Annual  Convention  met  at  the  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association  Hall,  232  Sutter  Street,  San  Francisco, 
September  first,  1881.  Increase  for  the  year  was  shown  by  the 
presence  of  two  officers  and  fourteen  delegates.  Thirteen 
unions  reported.  Advance  steps  in  organization  were  taken 
in  expectation  of  greater  needs.  Presidents  of  local  unions 
were  made  Vice  Presidents  of  the  State.  Life  membership 
was  adopted,  and  at  the  May  Executive,  Mrs.  L.  P.  Williams 
of  San  Francisco  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Varney  of  Oakland  each 
paid  $25.00  to  become  life  members. 

Dr.  R.  H.  McDonald  and  his  mother,  Martha  Sheppard 
McDonald  became  honorary  members  by  payment  of  $100 
each. 

This  was  a year  of  great  activity,  San  Francisco  carrying  on 
a Coffee  House,  at  an  expense  of  $1,000  a month, — demonstra- 
ting, for  the  first  time,  that  a temperance  eating  house  would 
pay.  This  establishment  so  thoroughly  accomplished  that 
object,  that  it  was  driven  from  the  field  later,  by  its  numerous 
and  more  successful  rivals. 

The  special  work  of  the  year  was  in  the  schools.  Miss  Anna 
R.  Congdon,  a teacher  of  Sonoma  County,  suggested  the  idea 
of  prize  essays  in  the  schools,  presenting  the  subject  in  an 
article  published  in  “The  Rescue,”  the  official  organ  of  the 
Good  Templars. 

Nevada  county  first  adopted  and  carried  out  the  plan;  Ala- 
meda, Santa  Clara,  and  possibly  some  others  followed,  each 
raising  the  funds  required  for  their  respective  counties ; but 
the  city  of  San  Francisco,  having  a school  population  so  large 
and  difficult  to  reach,  made  its  appeal  to  the  State  union.  The 
Secretary  brought  the  matter  before  an  executive  meeting  at 
Oakland,  but  it  seemed  too  big  to  handle,  and  it  was  agreed 
that  it  could  not  be  done  unless  some  one  would  give  the 
money  to  finance  the  work. 

Prize  Essays  in  Schools. 

Dr.  R.  H.  McDonald,  President  of  the  Pacific  Bank  of  San 


STATE  PRESIDENT 


MRS.  P.  D.  BROWNE 


STATE  PRESIDENT 


JIRS.  SOPHIA  J.  CHURCHILL 


STATE  PRESIDENT 


MRS.  ROSAMOND  R.  JOHNSTON 


STATE  PRESIDENT 


MRS.  BEAUMELLE  STURTEYAXT- BEET 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


25 


Francisco,  was  struck  with  the  idea  and  at  once  proceeded  to 
work  out  a plan  of  his  own.  He  made  a donation  to  the  Union 
of  $1,000  to  be  used  for  “Prize  Essays”  on  the  “Evil  Effects  of 
Tobacco  and  Intemperance,”  by  the  pupils  of  the  Public 
Schools  of  San  Erancisco,  and  also  $500  for  prize  essays  on  the 
same  subjects  in  the  Normal  School  at  San  Jose,  and  the  High 
Schools  of  the  State.  His  plans  were  thorough,  and  required 
the  personal  supervision  and  constant  efforts  of  the  Secretary 
for  five  months.  To  make  this  possible,  he  paid  her  board 
and  one-half  of  her  salary  for  that  time,  besides  providing  desk 
and  supplies  for  her  office,  printing  circular  letters  and  over 
80,000  leaflets,  as  different  ideas  or  occasions  had  to  be  met, 
until  the  sum  of  his  donations  for  this  special  work  amounted 
to  more  than  $3,000. 

The  city  schools  had  then  32,000  pupils  and  686  teachers. 
By  arrangement  with  the  Board  of  Education  all  except  the 
two  lowest  grades  were  engaged  in  the  contest,  with  prizes  in 
varying  amounts  to  all  schools,  of  from  $2.00  to  $15.00,  and 
two  gold  medals.  Nearly  20,000  children  competed  for  those 
prizes  of  which  200  were  presented  by  the  donor  at  a meeting 
of  over  3,000  people  at  Union  Hall. 

With  all  this,  there  came  a tremendous  demand  for  temper- 
ance literature.  Every  source  was  ransacked  for  supplies, 
and  the  libraries  put  up  notices  “No  more  Temperance  books 
to  be  had.”  This  by  no  means  ended  the  prize  essay  work. 
The  effort  inaugurated  a study  of  the  subject  throughout  the 
State  that  was  far  reaching  in  its  influence. 

Mrs.  S.  P.  Taylor,  the  president  of  San  Erancisco,  being 
about  to  go  east,  was  elected  the  first  delegate  from  California 
to  a National  Convention. 

1882. 

The  third  Annual  Convention  met  in  Oakland,  and  for  the 
first  time  filled  two  days — the  6th  and  7th  of  September,  1882. 
Two  officers  and  fourteen  delegates  answered  the  roll  call. 
The  Secretary  reported  the  same  number  of  Unions,  but 
greatly  increased  interest. 

The  first  efforts  to  introduce  unfermented  wine  at  Com- 
munion resulted  in  its  adoption  by  the  Eirst  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Oakland. 


26 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


The  general  work  was  aided  by  the  courtesy  of  the  Good 
Templars,  who  gave  the  use  of  one  page  of  their  official  organ, 
“The  Rescue.” 

High  School  Essays. 

The  prize  essay  work  of  the  preceding  year  was  in  the 
graded  schools,  that  for  the  Normal  and  High  schools  was 
carried  out  successfully  this  year;  the  High  Schools  of  Santa 
Barbara,  Santa  Cruz,  Grass  Valley,  Alameda,  San  Diego  and 
Gilroy  competed  for  the  prize  of  $25.00.  San  Diego  won  it. 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Gray  was  elected  President;  Mrs.  P.  D.  Browne, 
Vice-President;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Congdon,  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary; Mrs.  H.  H.  Havens,  Assistant;  Mrs.  L.  P.  Williams, 
Recording  Secretary,  and  Mrs.  S.  G.  Chamberlain,  Treasurer. 

Of  these  early  officers,  Mrs.  Williams  is  still  in  the  service, 
only  one  other  woman  having  filled  so  many  different  posi- 
tions. 

Mrs.  Chamberlain  was  one  whose  keen  insight  gave  her  an 
intuitive  perception  of  the  latent  gifts  of  others  and  inspired 
them  with  the  confidence  that  brought  them  into  activity. 
A distinguished  writer  who  had  been  her  pupil  in  boyhood, 
refers  tenderly  to  this  influence  in  suggesting  the  hopes  and 
future  of  her  scholars. 

1883. 

The  Fourth  Annual  Convention  met  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Hall, 
San  Francisco,  Sept.  5,  1883.  Two  officers,  sixteen  delegates 
and  a few  visiting  members  made  up  the  meeting.  Twenty- 
two  Unions  were  reported,  many  were  too  remote  to  send 
delegates. 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Gray,  the  president  elected  by  the  preceding  con- 
vention having  been  unable  to  serve  after  the  opening  of  the 
year,  the  vice-president,  Mrs.  Browne,  resumed  the  position 
that  she  had  so  ably  filled  for  two  preceding  years,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  office  until  she  had  rounded  out  a remarkably 
successful  term  of  five  years. 

Vv^ Oman’s  Suffrage. 

A memorable  feature  of  this  Convention  was  the  reading  of 
a paper  by  Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Eyster,  on  the  “Adaptation  of 
Women  to  the  Work  of  Temperance  Reform,”  that  inciden- 
tally and  inocuously  touched  upon  Woman  Suffrage,  a topic 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


27 


tabooed  by  the  president.  The  silent  audience  felt  the 
thrill  it  produced,  and  yet  remembers  just  how  the  speaker 
looked,  as  with  unconscious  movements  her  falling  curls  kept 
time  to  the  rhythm  of  her  voice,  as  she  gave  utterance  to 
thought  so  radical.  Mrs.  S.  J.  Churchill  rose  promptly  and 
with  calm  dignity  followed  bravely,  in  strong  words  of  appro- 
bation. The  Chair  gently  announced  the  next  number  on  the 
program.  The  work  was  well  done,  and  without  a resolution 
or  a vote,  the  convention  stood  committed  to  the  cause  of 
“Votes  for  Women.” 

Miss  Willard’s  Visit. 

The  event  of  the  year  was  the  visit  of  Frances  E.  Willard 
and  her  Secretary,  Miss  Anna  Gordon.  They  came  by  way  of 
Los  Angeles,  first  organizing  Unions  there.  From  there  the 
route  was  arranged  by  Mrs.  M.  E.  Congdon,  who,  with  the 
president,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Gray,  met  Miss  Willard  at  that  point. 
The  itinerary  covered  65  days,  in  which  Miss  Willard  gave  75 
addresses  to  35,000  hearers,  traveled  2,276  miles,  organized  18 
Unions,  added  approximately  1,000  members  and  received 
collections  amounting  to  $1,000,  which  was  mostly  returned 
to  the  local  Union  in  each  locality. 

This  was  the  first  attempt  to  make  dates  for  a speaker,  and 
was  most  successfully  managed  by  the  Secretary,  Mrs.  Cong- 
don. Not  one  engagement  was  missed  and  the  whole  plan 
was  carried  out  with  the  accuracy  of  clock  work.  The  effect 
of  this  visit  cannot  be  measured.  Miss  Willard’s  magnetic 
eloquence  attracted  the  people,  her  breadth  of  vision  enlight- 
ened them,  and  her  splendid,  spiritual  personality  impressed 
them.  The  work  assumed  a position  of  importance  and  in- 
fluence due  to  the  public  recognition  of  its  lofty  aims  and 
character. 

Plans  of  expansion  were  laid  and  Amendments  to  the  Con- 
stitution proposed,  to  bring  the  work  into  line  with  the  most 
advanced. 

The  proceeds  of  Miss  Willard’s  lectures,  in  San  Francisco, 
$275.00,  were,  at  her  request,  used  to  establish  a kindergarten. 
Like  that  of  the  Coffee  House,  the  success  of  this  line  of 
work  was  so  well  demonstrated  that  it  was  soon  taken  up  by 


28 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


others,  and  later  on  the  Kindergarten  Association  absorbed 
this,  with  others  subsequently  established. 

A Kindergarten  was  also  successfully  carried  on  by  the 
San  Jose  union  for  some  years  until  adopted  by  the  Board  of 
Education. 

As  an  antidote  to  intemperance,  the  Unions  generally,  ac- 
cording to  locality  and  ability,  took  up  the  special  work  of 
Coffee  Houses  and  Reading  Rooms.  At  that  time  it  was 
recognized  as  the  best  thing  to  do,  although  many  of  them 
were  wrecked  on  financial  rocks,  all  did  their  temporary  part 
in  the  creation  of  enduring  sentiment.  A Sewing  and  Tem- 
perance school  was  conducted  during  the  summer  in  the  lower 
part  of  San  Francisco,  but  for  lack  of  teachers  was  discon- 
tinued. 


CHAPTER  III. 


Division  of  State.  Movement  for  Constitutional  Prohibition. 

County  Organization. 

1884. 

On  May  29th,  1884,  a conference  was  held  in  Oakland  be- 
tween the  state  officers  and  Miss  Hathaway,  president  of 
Southern  California,  at  which  it  was  deemed  advisable  on 
account  of  the  inconvenience  of  attending  conventions  at  such 
great  distances,  to  sever  the  seven  southern  counties,  San 
Luis  Obispo,  Kern,  Ventura,  Santa  Barbara,  Los  Angeles, 
San  Diego  and  San  Bernardino,  from  the  remainder  of  the 
State,  as  a separate  Union,  to  be  known  as  the  Union  of 
Southern  California.  In  the  evening  a public  meeting  was 
held,  at  which  Mrs.  Foster  of  Iowa  gave  an  able  address  on 
“Constitutional  Prohibition.”  A midsummer  conference  was 
held  at  Pacific  Grove — during  the  Chatauqua  Assembly,  an 
entire  day  being  given  to  temperance  work.  The  public 
meeting  in  the  evening  was  addressed  for  the  first  time  by  the 
President  and  the  Superintendents  of  departments.  A DIS- 
TINCT ADVANCE. 

The  Fifth  Annual  Convention  met  in  Oakland,  Sept.  3rd  and 
4th.  Forty-five  unions  were  reported  and  twenty-four  sent 
delegates.  This  told  of  great  expansion.  The  number  of 
unions  had  doubled,  two  at  Oakland  and  Stockton  were  Young 
Women’s,  the  first  organized. 

A distinguished  clergyman  present  was  invited  to  the  plat- 
form, and  made  a ringing  commendatory  speech,  in  which  he 
expressed  himself  as  favorable  to  Woman  Suffrage.  The 
president  could  not  then  countenance  such  radical  ideas,  and 
very  sharply  called  him  to  order,  with  the  remark  that  “such 
views  were  not  to  be  advanced  on  this  platform.”  It  is  a 
pleasure  to  record  that  the  lady  expanded  with  her  work,  and 
later  became  an  able  exponent  of  those  same  views. 

Departments. 

At  Miss  Willard’s  recommendation  Departments  were 
adopted  and  Superintendents  appointed,  instead  of  the  pre- 
vious clumsier  methods  of  committees.  The  Departments 


30 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


were  Evangelistic,  Legislation  and  Petitions,  Scientific  Tem- 
perance Instruction,  Hygiene,  Heredity,  Song,  Prison,  Press, 
Viticulture,  Literary  Bodies  and  School  Conventions,  County 
Fairs,  Religious  Bodies,  Sunday  Schools,  Public  Lectures, 
Coffee  Houses,  Soldiers  and  Sailors,  Free  Reading  Room, 
Young  Ladies’  Unions,  Object  Lessons,  Fruit  and  Flowers, 
German  Work  and  Juvenile  Work,  each  with  an  able  Super- 
intendent. 

These  departments  generally  duplicated  those  already  estab- 
lished in  the  National  Union,  but  two,  the  department  of 
“Song”  and  “Viticulture”  originated  here.  Accessions  of 
members  from  the  Fast  were  adding  force  and  helping  to  shape 
the  work.  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  fresh  from  her  laurels  won 
in  Vermont,  had  in  her  first  year’s  residence  made  herself  felt 
on  the  Committee  of  Legislation  and  Petitions,  of  which  de- 
partment she  was  the  first  Superintendent,  and  at  this  writing 
ably  fills  the  same  position.  These  Superintendents  were  ap- 
pointed after  the  last  preceding  Convention,  and  brought  in 
their  first  reports  at  this  one.  Mrs.  Henrietta  Skelton,  Na- 
tional Supt.  of  German  Work,  came  to  California  in  this  year 
and  organized  German  Unions  in  San  Francisco  and  San 
Jose. 

The  first  department  literature,  was  brought  out  in  this 
year  by  Dr.  C.  Annette  Buckel,  Supt.  of  Hygiene.  The 
course  consisted  of  twelve  lessons,  one  for  each  month,  in 
leaflet  form,  on  the  subjects,  “Air,”  “Water,”  “Food,”  “Ani- 
mal,” and  “Vegetable,”  “The  Digestive  Organs  and  their 
Functions,”  “Clothing,”  and  “Exercise.”  These  lesson  leaf- 
lets were  largely  used  by  the  Unions,  and  had  they  been 
known  outside  of  the  State,  would  no  doubt  have  had  a per- 
manent value  in  the  national  literature. 

The  juvenile  work  was  at  this  time  the  greatest  object  of 
importance  to  all  the  Unions,  although  it  was  as  yet  imper- 
fectly organized,  the  juvenile  societies  having  various  names 
and  methods,  though  working  to  the  same  end. 

Making  a Lecture  Route. 

Miss  Willard’s  vision  of  the  Pacific  and  beyond,  was  the 
signal  for  workers  from  the  East  to  appear.  First  came  Mrs. 
Mary  Clement  Leavitt,  commissioned  as  the  first  “Round  the 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


31 


World  Missionary”,  to  do  all  she  could  in  California,  while 
plans  were  maturing  for  foreign  fields. 

Lecture  routes  do  not  yet  present  themselves  ready  made, 
and  at  that  time  were  matters  of  great  difficulty.  Railroads 
were  few  and  far  between,  and  beyond  the  towns  near  cen- 
ters of  population,  it  was  not  even  known  to  whom  to  write 
for  such  purposes.  The  president  knew  an  excellent  family, 
of  wealth  and  social  position,  in  a northern  county,  and  to 
them  she  wrote  announcing  that  Mrs.  Leavitt,  a temperance 
lecturer,  would  be  in  their  vicinity  on  a given  date,  and,  “Will 
you  kindly  entertain  her,”  she  asked,  “arrange  for  a place  for 
her  to  speak,  secure  the  co-operation  of  local  clergy,  the  ser- 
vices of  the  choir,  and  above  all  see  that  the  meetings  are 
well  advertised,  etc.”  The  letter  was  received  by  the  lady  of 
the  manor,  with  dismay.  Her  home  was  famed  for  its  gracious 
hospitality.  It  was  like  a ducal  estate,  its  immense  acreage  of 
wheat,  its  great  orchards  and  wide-spreading  vineyards,  were 
the  sources  of  the  owner’s  wealth,  the  commercial  burden  of 
the  Sacramento  river,  and  the  symbols  of  social  and  political 
influence.  She  was  equal  to  anything,  but  really  knew  as 
little  of  temperance  meetings,  as  the  proverbial  kitten  knows 
about  Sunday  school,  and  what  was  worse,  on  the  very  date 
given  for  Mrs.  Leavitt’s  arrival  her  cards  were  out  for  a social 
function  which  would  fill  her  spacious  house.  Friends  from 
near  and  far,  from  the  distant  cities  and  nearer  towns  were 
invited  for  that  very  time.  In  her  perplexity  she  thought 
of  the  Bidwells.  The  Bidwells  lived  in  another  county,  but 
were  known  to  have  peculiar  ideas  about  total  abstinence, 
and  General  Bidwell  had  been  so  fanatical  as  to  pull  up  every 
wine-grape  on  his  place — the  famous  Rancho  Chico — rather 
than  allow  them  to  produce  fruit  that  would  make  wine.  So 
she  wrote  to  Mrs.  Bidwell,  and  the  General  and  his  wife  con- 
ferred together  on  the  matter.  Theirs  was  a home  noted  for 
its  hospitality,  and  the  prospect  of  a discussion  on  the  sub- 
ject of  temperance  was  more  than  welcome — but  a woman 
lecturer!  They  shuddered  at  the  thought.  True,  they  had 
met  Miss  Willard,  but  she  was  so  altogether  exceptional 
that  it  was  a shock  to  think  of  any  other  woman  on  the 
platform.  Finally  the  General  said,  “Well,  there  is  nothing 
else  to  do”,  and  bravely  they  did  their  part.  They  expected 


32 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


an  unattractive,  masculine  woman,  but  instead  they  met  a 
charming,  cultured  and  motherly  lady  who  leveled  every 
obstacle  that  Miss  Willard  had  not  swept  away. 

Mrs.  Leavitt  organized  twelve  Unions,  but  by  midsum- 
mer was  too  ill  to  go  on  with  her  route,  and  it  was  finished 
by  Mrs.  H.  A.  Hobart,  president  of  Minnesota,  who  had  come 
to  the  coast  seeking  health,  and  in  this  emergency  kindly 
carried  on  the  work  so  well  begun.  She  organized  six  Unions, 
and  spoke  in  many  other  places. 

Mrs.  Bidwell  was  appointed  a Superintendent  of  Organiza- 
tion in  the  northern  counties,  including  Butte,  Tehama  and 
Shasta ; and,  with  her  noble  husband,  became  a tower  of 
strength  to  the  Cause ; they  were  untiring  in  their  own  efforts, 
and  thoughtful  to  the  last  degree  of  other  workers. 

Mrs.  J.  Ellen  Foster,  of  Iowa,  a woman  of  rare  ability  and 
oratorical  power,  also  gave  a series  of  lectures  in  the  larger 
towns  of  the  State  and  like  a magnet  drew  members  involun- 
tarily into  the  Unions. 

Legislation. 

Mrs.  Foster  had  been  president  of  the  Woman’s  Christian 
Temperance  Union  of  Iowa,  and  under  her  leadership  the 
state  had  achieved  prohibition  by  Constitutional  Amendment. 
This  was  then  an  entirely  new  method.  Iowa  and  its  presi- 
dent became  famous.  When  Miss  Willard  learned  that  Mrs. 
Foster  was  about  to  visit  California,  she  at  once  commissioned 
her  to  find  Mrs.  Sturtevant,  late  Corresponding  Secretary  and 
Organizer  of  Vermont,  whose  ability  was  well  known  in  the 
East,  and  make  her  Superintendent  of  Legislation  for  Cali- 
fornia. Mrs.  Sturtevant  had  in  the  meantime  married  Mr. 
E.  W.  Peet,  come  to  this  state,  was  already  at  work  as  a 
county  president,  and  just  then  was  revising  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  state  union  and  demonstrating  her  fitness  for  the 
work.  The  state  was  not  yet  well  organized,  in  the  north  or 
south,  and  Mrs.  Foster’s  plan  of  having  one  superintendent 
include  the  whole  state  in  her  jurisdiction  was  readily  accepted 
by  both.  With  characteristic  energy  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet 
undertook  her  new  duties,  wrote  and  sent  the  following  mani- 
festo to  all  the  unions  for  distribution  and  action.  No  sooner 
was  this  out,  than  politicians  began  to  take  notice,  and  a com- 


STATE  PRESIDENT 


MRS.  SARA  J.  DORR 


STATE  OFFICERS 


MRS.  E.  G.  GREENE 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  ROSS  MILLER. 


Vice-presidents-at-large 


MRS.  ADDIE  GARWOOD  ESTES  MRS.  ETHEL  ESTES  STEPHENSON 
Vice-president-at-large  Secretary  Young  People's  Branch 


STATE  OFFICERS 


MRS.  H.  H.  HAVENS 


MRS.  DORCAS  J.  SPENCER 


MRS.  HENRIETTA  E.  BROWN 


MRS.  ANNA  E.  CHASE 


Corresponding  Secretaries 


STATE  HEADQUARTERS  FROJI  1SS5  TO  1904 
A juvenile  demonstration  on  Decoration  Day 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


33 


mittee  of  gentlemen  drove  out  from  Oakland  to  her  home  at 
Hayward  to  remonstrate  with  her,  reminding  her  that  a presi- 
dential campaign  was  on,  and  this  course  might  imperil  the 
success  of  the  republican  party. 

Prohibition  Manifesto. 

Here  is  the  text  of  the  alarming  document : 

To  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Unions  of  California: 

“Be  thou  for  the  people  to  God-ward,  that  thou  mayest  bring  the 
causes  unto  God.” 

And  thou  shalt  teach  them  ordinances  and  laws  and  shalt  show 
them  the  way  wherein  they  must  walk  and  the  work  that  they  must 
do.” — Exodus,  18,  19,  20. 

Dear  Women  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.: 

The  Executive  Boards  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  of  California  and  of  Southern  California,  after  mature  delibera- 
tion, and  in  harmony  with  the  work  known  as  the  Department  of 
Legislation  and  Petitions  have  made  me  Superintendent  of  the  same 
in  northern  California.  They  resolved  further  to  begin  a movement 
for  Constitutional  Prohibition,  as  set  forth  in  the  following  resolu- 
tions: 

RESOLVED:  That  realizing  the  increasing  strength  of  the  liquor 
traffic  in  our  State,  and  the  dreadful  demoralization  resulting  there- 
from, we  are  profoundly  impressed  that  it  is  our  duty  to  direct  the 
attention  of  the  people  of  the  State  to  a study  of  Constitutional  Pro- 
hibition as  the  legislative  remedy  for  these  evils,  that  through  peti- 
tion, agitation,  education  and  legislation  the  organic  law  may  be  so 
amended  as  to  favor  the  prohibition  of  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
all  alcoholic  beverages. 

RESOLVED:  That  in  our  opinion  the  prohibition  of  the  manu- 
facture and  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  the  State  should  include 
wine  made  from  grapes  grown  in  the  State,  for  the  reason  that  the 
same  contains  a large  proportion  of  alcohol,  and  is  intoxicating,  and 
the  experience  that  comes  from  other  wine-growing  countries  con- 
firms this  fact,  and  demonstrates  that  intemperance  increases  as  does 
this  so-called  industry,  and  on  this  we  solicit  facts. 

Since  the  beginning  of  our  women’s  temperance  work  in  both 
State  and  Nation,  we  have  sought  Divine  guidance  as  to  lines  of  work 
to  be  pursued  and  methods  to  be  adopted.  I therefore  ask  that  you 
will,  in  your  local  Union  give  careful  and  prayerful  consideration  to 
the  following: 

We  believe  Prohibition  to  be  the  only  legislative  remedy,  right 
principle  and  effective  in  results.  We  believe  Constitutional  Prohibi- 
tion to  be  the  best  form  which  prohibition  can  take.  We  believe  this 
to  be  the  easiest  of  attainment,  the  best  adapted  to  woman’s  facilities 
of  labor,  and  that  it  is,  also,  the  most  permanent  and  effective  when 
obtained. 


34 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


You  will  receive  petitions  to  the  Legislature  convening  January, 
1885,  asking  it  to  adopt  and  submit  a Prohibitory  Amendment  to  the 
people.  But  notice,  workers  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  during  the  next  few 
months  the  political  parties  will  hold  their  Conventions  for  the  nomi- 
nation of  members  to  the  Legislature.  These  Conventions  will  also 
adopt  what  is  known  as  a “platform  of  principles.”  We  urge  that 
you  send  a committee  of  women  to  the  Convention  and  to  present  a 
memorial  in  signed  writing,  asking  them  to  declare  in  the  platform 
adopted  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Legislature  to  submit  this  great 
question  to  a popular  vote  by  way  of  amendment  to  the  Constitution, 
and  pledging  the  nominees  at  the  Convention  that  they  will,  if  elected 
to  the  Legislature,  thus  submit. 

We  send  a form  of  memorial  which  may  be  used.  This  memorial 
should  be  presented  at  the  State  and  County  Conventions  of  each  and 
every  political  party.  The  object  of  the  memorial  is  to  arrest  public 
thought,  to  provoke  discussion,  to  bring  party  managers  to  feel  the 
pressure  of  the  unrepresented  sentiment  of  the  homes.  While  we 
know  very  well  that  the  mere  politician  gives  little  service,  save  as  it 
can  be  exchanged  for  votes,  there  are  always  in  every  gathering  true, 
brave  men  who  have  not  bent  the  knee  to  the  Baal  of  Expediency — 
who  will  stand  for  “God  and  home  and  native  land.”  If  a clear  issue 
is  presented  to  them,  wise  and  brave  knights  will  come  to  our  defense, 
and  to  the  advocacy  of  our  principles.  We  recommend  that  the  peti- 
tion be  circulated  as  soon  as  September.  It  is  well  to  open  the  peti- 
tion campaign  with  a public  meeting  in  which  the  whole  plan  of  action 
shall  be  set  forth.  Remember  to  clearly  state  that  the  signer  does  not 
of  necessity  declare  himself  a prohibitionist,  or  to  pledge  himself  to 
vote  for  prohibition.  The  petitioner  merely  says  (in  effect)  “This  is  a 
great  question;  therefore  I ask  the  Legislature  to  take  the  steps  pro- 
vided for  in  the  Constitution,  that  the  people  may  thus  exercise  their 
sovereignty.” 

We  further  recommend  that  each  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  duplicate  this  department  of  legislation,  and  that  a clear- 
brained, consecrated  woman  be  appointed  Superintendent.  We  fur- 
ther recommend  that  on  the  day  of  the  regular  union  local  meeting 
following  the  advent  of  this  message  that  there  be  read  the  Scripture 
found  in  Deut.  6,  16-25;  also  that  time  be  given  to  prayer  for  Divine 
guidance  in  this  new  line  of  work. 

During  the  circulating  of  the  petition,  distribute  temperance  liter- 
ature, take  note  of  all  objections  made  to  prohibition  as  a principle, 
or  to  this  amendment  movement  bj'  which  we  hope  and  expect  to 
secure  prohibition. 

This  movement,  though  inaugurated  by  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  will  not 
by  any  means  be  championed  alone  by  our  organization,  as  in  other 
States.  Ministers  of  Christian  churches  will  give  it  their  hearty  in- 
dorsement. The  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars,  around  their 
lodge  altars,  sacred  with  obligations  of  total  abstinence,  will  pledge 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


35 


their  support  to  this  attempt  to  take  the  “drink  away  from  the  man” 
as  well  as  the  “man  away  from  the  drink.”  Other  temperance  organ- 
izations will  see  in  this  the  best  opportunity  for  a “long  pull,  a strong 
pull  and  a pull  together,”  an  united  onset  against  the  “powers  of 
darkness”  as  they  are  intrenched  in  the  liquor  traffic,  and  Constitu- 
tional Prohibition  shall  soon  be  the  shibboleth  of  battle  all  along  the 

line.  Yours  sincerely, 

BEAUMEELE  STURTEVANT-PEET, 
Supt.  Legislation. 

Hayward,  July  21,  1884. 

Throughout  the  state  the  influence  of  politicians  was  greater 
than  that  of  voteless  women,  no  party  endorsed  the  principle, 
and  the  effort  was  considered  premature.  However,  the  next 
legislature  was  memorialized  by  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  to  submit  a 
Constitutional  Amendment  for  Prohibition.  The  Memorial 
was  introduced  by  Senator  Steele  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  and 
lost,  thus  ending  the  first  direct  effort  toward  the  ultimate  ob- 
ject of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

1885. 

The  Sixth  Convention  at  Petaluma  held  three  days  and  was 
inspirational.  Falling  upon  a day  set  apart  by  the  National 
Union  as  a day  of  prayer  a whole  morning  session  was  given 
to  that.  Even  in  the  devotional  hours  there  was  in  those  days 
a striking  variety  and  originality.  A delegate  reporting  to 
her  local  Union,  said : “That  prayer  service  was  wonderful.” 
The  president,  Mrs.  Browne,  with  the  most  amazingly  rapid 
flow  of  thought  and  language,  began  it.  Mrs.  Sturtevant- 
Peet,  a strikingly  beautiful  woman  of  charming  personality, 
read  the  Scripture ; after  her  came  a modest  rural  member, 
slow  of  speech,  but  most  appealing  in  prayer ; then  an  elegant 
French  woman,  unused  to  pray  in  public,  spoke  earnestly  in 
tender  words  of  mixed  English  and  French;  then  another 
timid  saint  poured  out  her  soul  in  praise  and  petition ; a very 
old  black  woman,  once  a slave,  offered  a typical  traditional 
plantation  prayer,  that  seemed  to  raise  the  very  roof  in  its 
ascent,  and  Henrietta  Skelton,  in  her  never-to-be-forgotten 
German  accents  gave  her  tribute  of  grateful  praise,  calling 
down  all  the  blessings  of  heaven,  but  only  this  one  petition 
is  now  recalled : “Bless  de  dear  hoosbands  who  have  shpared 


36 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


dere  coompanions  to  coome  up  here ; may  day  be  better  vim- 
men  ven  dey  coome  to  dem  back.” 

The  return  to  the  place  of  its  origin  brought  out  conspicu- 
ously the  rapid  growth  of  the  Union.  Eighty  local  Unions 
had  been  organized  in  the  year,  57  reported,  21  departments 
had  State  Superintendents. 

County  Organization. 

County  organization  began  in  May  with  Contra  Costa. 
The  president,  Mrs.  Schott  writes ; “I  do  not  know  why  I ac- 
cepted the  presidency,  except  that  I could  not  resist  the  earn- 
est, appealing  face  of  Mrs.  Skelton.”  Sonoma  and  Fresno, 
also,  were  organized  in  May;  Tulare  in  June;  Alameda  and 
Nevada  in  July;  San  Francisco  in  September;  then  Santa 
Clara,  Butte  and  Napa. 

Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet  presented  a form  of  constitution  em- 
bodying all  the  amendments  offered  the  previous  year — 
which,  after  full  deliberation,  was  accepted.  Under  its  pro- 
visions, the  election  was  the  first  held  by  the  “Nominating  and 
Elective  Ballot,”  then  known  as  the  “Informal  Ballot.”  The 
first  provision  was  made  for  paying  the  expenses  of  the  presi- 
dent in  this  year. 

The  Bulletin. 

The  necessity  of  a State  organ  becoming  imperative,  the 
president,  Mrs.  Browne,  early  in  the  year  issued  a tiny  sheet 
called  “The  Bulletin,”  which  so  well  filled  the  long-felt  want 
that  it  soon  became  a monthly,  with  larger  pages.  It  was 
ably  edited  by  Mrs.  Browne,  and  a committee  was  charged 
with  the  care  of  its  finances. 

State  Headquarters. 

The  establishment  of  State  Headquarters  marked  another 
step  in  advance.  The  double  parlors  of  the  house,  133  McAl- 
lister street,  San  Francisco,  were  rented  in  the  spring,  and 
during  the  summer  well  furnished,  largely  by  gifts  solicited 
by  Mrs.  Henrietta  Skelton.  On  September  first,  they  were 
formally  dedicated  by  Bishop  Fowler,  and  for  more  than 
twenty  years — when  removal  became  necessary — were  the 
center  of  activities  that  reached  the  whole  State  and  far  be- 
yond. A depository  of  literature  was  at  once  established,  and 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


37 


the  Corresponding  Secretary  required  to  be  in  attendance  two 
days  in  the  week,  with  a salary  of  $25  per  month. 

In  the  list  of  “Departments”  there  appeared  one  that  has 
never  been  seen  since,  the  “Industrial  Ranch  for  Boys.”  A 
wealthy  gentleman  had  a philanthropic  design  to  found  an 
Industrial  Home,  in  which  boys  from  the  city  streets  might 
be  gathered  in,  reared  in  a wholesome  atmosphere  and  trained 
in  temperance  principles  and  right  living.  Desiring  to  place 
this  institution  in  the  care  of  a permanent  and  well-equipped 
organization,  and  struck  with  the  fitness  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
for  such  a charge,  he  proposed  to  give  the  Union  a property 
valued  at  $30,000,  for  the  purpose,  but  objected  to  the  word 
“Christian”  in  the  title  of  the  Union.  The  matter  was  dis- 
cussed at  an  Executive  Meeting,  and  the  gift  was  declined, 
without  bringing  it  before  the  Convention. 

Miss  Henrietta  G.  Moore,  of  Ohio,  a national  organizer, 
then  a divinity  student,  and  now  a well-known  minister,  and 
Mrs.  Henrietta  Skelton  rendered  excellent  services  as  organ- 
izers. Eight  Unions  in  this  year  maintained  local  head- 
quarters. 

Berkeley  Liquor  Law. 

The  persistent  violation  of  the  law  prohibiting  the  sale  of 
liquor  within  one  mile  of  the  State  University  caused  the 
state  union  to  raise  a special  fund  to  aid  in  the  prosecution 
of  several  cases  before  a court  and  jury  to  test  the  validity 
of  the  law,  but  the  jury  in  each  case  failed  to  agree.  The 
evidence  was  absolute  and  certain,  no  attempt  was  made  by 
defendants  to  disprove  the  facts,  the  court  sustained  the  law, 
yet  juries  would  not  convict.  Many  women  of  the  W.  C.  T. 
U.  were  present  at  these  trials,  helping  by  their  presence  to 
make  better  sentiment. 

The  growing  demands  of  the  state  work,  in  this  year  of  so 
many  activities  had  taxed  even  the  tireless  energy  of  the 
president,  and  Mrs.  Browne  declined  reelection,  after  an  ad- 
ministration in  which  foundations  broad  and  deep  had  been 
laid  for  the  permanent  structure  arising.  The  recording  sec- 
retary, Mrs.  Mary  H.  Field,  also  retired  from  that  office.  She 
was  a rarely  gifted  woman,  whose  presence  adorned  and  dig- 
nified any  position.  Mrs.  S.  J.  Churchill  already  well  known, 


38 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


was  elected  president,  and  Mrs.  H.  E.  Brown  recording  sec- 
retary. 

Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet  led  off  in  county  work  by  holding  the 
first  Institute  in  the  State.  The  success  of  one  day  at 
Chatauqua  led  to  a Temperance  Conference  of  three  days  at 
Pacific  Grove,  and  was  the  beginning  from  which  have  grown 
the  Summer  Assemblies  which  the  Union  has  held  annually 
ever  since,  excepting  the  year  of  the  San  Francisco  fire. 

1886. 

This  progressive  Convention  met  at  San  Jose  in  October — 
the  date  being  now  fixed  by  the  Constitution.  One  hundred 
and  two  delegates  attended.  Twenty-one  new  unions  were 
organized  this  year,  and  twenty-seven  departments  reported. 
There  was  general  activity  in  all,  but  work  for  the  young  led 
all  the  rest.  There  were  fifteen  Young  Woman’s  unions,  with 
nearly  six  hundred  members.  Grass  Valley,  the  largest,  had 
139  members,  having  for  its  motto  “Talitha  Cumi”  (in  Scrip- 
tural terms  which  being  interpreted  is,  “Damsel  I say  unto 
thee,  ‘Arise.’  ”)  Its  flower  “Echscholtia  Californica,”  was 
adopted  by  the  state  union. 

This  meeting  was  marked  by  earnest  debates.  The  depart- 
ment of  Purity  was  adopted  after  some  hesitation  as  a pecu- 
liarly difficult  one,  and  given  to  Superintendent  Mrs.  Hannah 
Bean — a mark  of  great  confidence.  Franchise,  at  first  con- 
sidered so  timidly,  loomed  up,  big  with  importance,  and  after 
much  discussion  was  adopted  as  a department  by  a vote  of 
54  to  40,  and  Sarah  M.  Severance  appointed  Superintendent. 

Having  done  this,  an  earnest  debate  followed  on  a motion 
to  ask  the  legislature  to  grant  the  ballot  to  women.  This  was 
conceded  to  be  premature,  and  it  was  voted  to  concentrate  all 
forces  this  year  to  secure  the  Temperance  Education  Law. 

Another  debate  followed  on  the  adoption  of  the  famous  St. 
Louis  resolution,  which  resulted  in  declaring  for  the  principle 
of  prohibition,  but  leaving  the  Union  non-partisan  in  its  atti- 
tude. 

Advance  steps  were  made  in  Finance,  and  a Contingent 
Fund  created  by  local  pledges,  to  send  the  president  to  the 
National  Convention.  Systematic  financial  plans  evolved  but 
slowly.  A special  fund  was  made  by  voluntary  offerings, 
called  the  “Love  Fund,”  as  a gift  to  the  president.  Lectur- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


39 


ers  this  year  were  Mrs.  Skelton,  Miss  Narcissa  White,  of 
Pennsylvania;  Mrs.  Wittenmeyer,  the  first  National  Presi- 
dent; Mrs.  Youmans,  President  of  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 
and  Mrs.  E.  G.  Greene,  late  President  of  Vermont,  .well  known 
by  her  book,  “The  Pathfinder,”  which  had  been  a text  book 
on  organization.  She  originated  in  her  State  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
Institute,  since  become  a most  useful  factor  in  all  States. 

The  one-mile  law  protecting  the  State  University  from  the 
liquor  traffic,  having  passed  the  test  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
became  a definite  object  of  defense  and  the  battle  for  its  en- 
forcement was  renewed  by  the  State,  led  by  the  Berkeley 
Union  and  aided  by  President  Reid,  of  the  University,  and 
his  wife. 

The  Bulletin  grew  from  four  to  eight  pages,  subscription 
25  cents — ads.  wanted. 

Scientific  Temperance  Instruction. 

A quiet,  but  important  work  was  pushed  in  the  department 
of  Scientific  Temperance  Instruction  in  1885  and  1886,  as  a 
preliminary  to  securing  a law  that  should  place  it  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  State.  The  first  text  book  meeting  the 
new  requirements,  was  “Steele’s  Hygienic  Physiology.”  The 
Superintendent,  Mrs.  Spencer,  at  once  made  herself  familiar 
with  all  the  processes  of  its  preparation,  including  the  names, 
and  officers  of  all  the  committee  of  specialists  engaged  in  it — 
information  which  proved  invaluable,  and  then  began  writing- 
about  it  to  prominent  teachers  and  Boards  of  Education.  The 
influential  Union  at  Oakland,  and  that  of  Grass  Valley  simul- 
taneously secured  its  adoption.  On  the  theory  that  the  lesser 
would  readily  follow  the  larger  towns,  San  Francisco  became 
the  next  point  of  attack.  Learning  the  names  of  the  members 
of  the  Board  of  Education,  letters  setting  forth  facts  and  argu- 
ments favorable  to  the  adoption  of  that  book  were  sent  to  each 
one,  and  to  many  prominent  women,  asking  their  influence  and 
personal  attendance  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Education 
when  the  subject  should  be  considered.  The  book  was 
adopted,  and  as  the  ladies  left  the  City  Hall  it  was  said  “the 
letters  did  it.” 

This  was,  in  its  effects,  a great  achievement,  and  is  here  re- 
corded to  show  the  means  by  which  it  was  brought  about. 
It  enabled  the  Superintendent  to  say  in  her  next  letters. 


40 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


“Boards  of  Education  representing  thirty-three  per  cent  of 
the  school  census  of  the  State  have  adopted  the  ‘Temperance 
Physiology/  and  thereafter  she  carried  with  her  a copy  of  the 
School  Census,  and  whenever  any  Board  of  Education  adopted 
the  book,  a little  sum  in  percentage  added  force  to  her  argu- 
ment by  showing  how  many  more  had  done  it. 

This  first  text  book  reached  only  the  higher  grades.  A 
“Health  Primer”  was  soon  brought  out  for  the  lower  grades. 
By  this  time  the  Liquor  Interest  began  to  take  notice,  and 
opposition  was  more  frequently  met.  In  her  home  town  a 
most  valuable  experience  was  had.  A Board  of  Education  of 
seven  members  was  dominated  by  its  chairman,  a lawyer  op- 
posed to  the  measure.  A committee  of  ladies  preferred  their 
request,  which  was  at  once  granted,  only  to  be  reconsidered 
as  soon  as  the  ladies  left  the  room.  This  was  the  signal  for 
a siege  of  parliamentary  tactics  by  which  it  was  intended  to 
defeat  it,  and  continued  at  every  meeting  for  five  months, 
when  the  women  triumphed.  As  this  was  only  a city  board, 
having  no  jurisdiction  outside  the  municipality,  the  County 
Board  of  Education  claimed  attention  next.  The  same  gen- 
tleman, though  not  a member  of  the  County  Board,  conducted 
the  opposition  there  for  three  months,  when,  as  before,  the 
measure  was  carried  by  a full  vote. 

In  that  eight  months  the  Superintendent  received  excellent 
training  for  duties  that  devolved  upon  her  afterwards  as  a 
lobby  member  of  the  State  Legislature.  That  lawyer’s  sug- 
gestions were  often  helpful ; one  night  he  angrily  said,  in  re- 
luctantly conceding  a point,  “A  lot  of  influential  women  will 
carry  anything.” 

Before  the  Superintendent  retired  that  night,  she  was  writ- 
ing to  distant  clergymen  to  ask,  “Who  is  the  most  influential 
woman  in  your  town?”  and  before  the  convention  of  1886  met, 
this  thought  had  been  worked  so  well  that  seven-eighths  of  all 
the  schools  had  some  sort  of  temperance  physiology  in  use. 
By  this  time  various  publishers  were  striving  to  meet  the 
growing  demand.  The  books  in  use  were  of  far  from  uniform 
merit,  in  itself  a good  reason  for  asking  for  a law  to  secure 
the  best. 

At  the  Post-executive  meeting  at  the  close  of  this  conven- 
tion, Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer  was  elected  the  first  State  Or- 
ganizer. 


1887. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Incorporation.  Passage  of  Temperance  Law.  The  Pacific 

Ensign. 

The  Eighth  Annual  Convention  met  at  Santa  Rosa,  and 
showed  a great  advance  in  business  methods.  It  was  ruled 
that  none  but  members  with  dues  paid,  were  entitled  to  rep- 
resentation. Local  Unions  were  asked  to  give  not  less  than 
three  dollars  a year  for  rent  and  expenses  of  State  Headquar- 
ters. The  State  Union  was  incorporated  under  the  provisions 
of  the  civil  law,  and  nine  dmectors  elected. 

ARTICLES  OF  INCORPORATION 
OF  THE 

WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION  OF 
CALIFORNIA. 

KNOW  ALL  MEN  BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  LFnion  of  California, 
the  representative  legislative  body  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union  for  said  State  held  on  Wednesday,  Thursday  and  Friday, 
the  12th,  13th  and  14th  days  of  October,  A.  D.  1887,  at  Santa  Rosa, 
County  of  Sonoma,  State  of  California,  said  representative  legislative 
body  elected  to  incorporate  the  “Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  of  California.” 

1. 

The  name  of  this  corporation  is  the  “WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN 
TEMPERANCE  UNION  OF  CALIFORNIA.” 

11. 

This  incorporation  is  formed  for  the  purpose  of  planning  and 
executing,  under  the  special  guidance  and  direction  of  Almighty  God, 
measures  which  will  result  in  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance in  the  State  of  California,  by  the  suppression  of  intemperance  in, 
and  the  banishment  of  the  liquor  traffic  from  this  State. 

Pecuniary  profit  is  not  the  object  of  this  incorporation. 

III. 

The  place  where  its  principal  business  shall  be  transacted  is  the 
City  and  County  of  San  Francisco. 

IV. 

The  term  for  which  said  corporation  shall  exist  is  fifty  (50)  years. 


42 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


V. 

The  number  of  Directors  of  said  corporation  shall  be  nine.  The 
names  of  those  who  were  appointed  and  elected  at  the  Ninth  Annual 
Convention  are  as  follows: 

Mrs.  R.  R.  Johnston,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Havens,  Mrs.  M.  H.  Field,  Mrs. 
M.  C.  Hart,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Churchill,  Mrs.  S.  G.  Chamberlain,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Mayhew,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  Mrs.  J.  Knowland. 

VI. 

There  is  no  capital  stock,  and  there  are  no  shares  of  stock. 

VII. 

That  in  furtherance  of  said  incorporation  the  following  resolution 
was  regularly  adopted  by  said  representative  legislative  body: 

RESOLVED:  That  this,  the  Eighth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  rep- 
resentative legislative  body  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union  of  California,  elect  and  proceed  to  incorporate  said  Union 
under  and  by  virtue  of  section  604  of  the  Civil  Code  of  California. 

That  thereupon  another  resolution  was  duly  introduced  and 
adopted,  in  words  as  follows: 

RESOLVED:  That  the  name  of  the  proposed  corporation  shall 
be  the  “Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  California;’’  that 
it  is  formed  for  the  purpose  of  planning  and  executing,  under  the  spe- 
cial blessing,  guidance  and  direction  of  Almighty  God,  measures 
which  will  result  in  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  temperance  in  the 
State  of  California,  by  the  suppression  of  intemperance  in,  and  the 
banishment  of  liquor  traffic  from  this  State.  That  the  place  where  its 
principal  business  shall  be  transacted  is  the  City  and  County  of  San 
Francisco,  State  of  California;  that  the  term  for  which  said  corpor- 
ation shall  exist  is  fifty  years;  and  that  the  number  of  its  Directors 
shall  be  nine. 

That  a third  resolution  was  adopted  in  reference  to  said  corpora- 
tion, viz.: 

RESOLVED:  That  this  meeting  proceed  to  elect  nine  Directors 
of  said  corporation,  to  serve  for  the  first  year  of  its  existence. 

That  the  presiding  officer  thereupon  appointed  Mrs.  F.  S.  Vaslit, 
of  San  Francisco,  and  Miss  Alice  Freeman,  of  Santa  Clara,  as  tellers. 

That  the  said  representative  legislative  body  proceeded  to  vote  by 
ballot  for  said  Directors,  and  the  said  tellers  reported  that  Mrs.  So- 
phia J.  Churchill,  Mrs.  Laura  P.  Williams,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.  Havens, 
Mrs.  Mary  H.  Field,  Mrs.  B.  Sturtevant-Peet,  Mrs.  Lucy  M.  Hutton, 
Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Eyster,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Carver  and  Mrs.  Vestalia  M.  Gove 
had  recevied  a majority  of  all  the  votes  cast,  and  the  presiding  officer 
therefore  declared  that  Mrs.  Sophia  J.  Churchill,  Mrs.  Laura  P. 
Williams,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.  Havens,  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Field,  Mrs.  B. 
Sturtevant-Peet,  Mrs.  Lucy  M.  Hutton,  Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Eyster,  Mrs. 
L.  M.  Carver  and  Mrs.  Vestalia  M.  Gove  had  been  duL'  elected  as 
Directors  of  said  corporation  to  serve  for  the  first  year,  and  until  the 
election  and  qualification  of  their  successors. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


43 


That  the  proceedings  hereinbefore  set  forth  were  all  duly  had  in 
accordance  with  the  Constitution,  rules  and  regulations  governing 
the  other  proceedings  of  said  representative  body,  and  took  place  on 
Thursday,  the  thirteenth  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1887,  at  Santa  Rosa, 
in  the  County  of  Sonoma,  State  of  California. 

SOPHIA  J.  CHURCHILE, 

Presiding  Officer  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  Califor- 
nia. 

NELLIE  B.  EYSTER, 

Secretary  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  of  California. 

Note. — Duly  acknowledged  by  President  and  Secretary  before  J. 
H.  Shermier,  Notary  Public,  San  Francisco,  October  IS,  1887. 

Filed  in  office  of  the  County  Clerk  of  the  City  and  County  of  San 
Francisco,  October  20,  1887. 

Certified  copy  of  Articles  of  Incorporation  filed  in  the  office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  at  Sacramento,  October  21,  1887. 

The  certificate  of  the  filing  of  Articles  of  Incorporation  was  issued 
by  W.  C.  Hendricks,  Secretary  of  State,  over  the  Great  Seal  of  the 
State,  on  the  21st  day  of  October,  1887. 

WILLIAM  F.  GIBSON,  Attorney. 

One  of  the  first  Board  of  Directors,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet, 
has  served  continuously  and  is  a member  of  the  present  board. 

Plans  for  raising  $500  for  a Contingent  Fund  were  pre- 
sented. One  was  “That  ten  lecturers  be  invited  each  to  give 
one  lecture  five  times,  for  which  the  Unions  would  pay  ten 
dollars  per  lecture,  and  expenses.”  Another,  that  every  organ- 
ized county  pledge  a life  membership  yearly.  Both  were 
adopted,  and  the  latter  still  obtains. 

Securing  Temperance  Instruction  Law. 

Securing  the  Scientific  Temperance  Instruction  Law  was 
the  successful  effort  of  the  year.  Foundations  had  been  well 
laid  during  the  two  preceding  years  by  the  adoption  of  tem- 
perance physiologies  of  various  grades  and  publishers,  by 
Boards  of  Education  representing  seven-eighths  of  the  school 
census  of  the  state.  It  was  a case  of  striking  while  the  iron 
was  hot,  for  every  one  of  these  Boards  might  change  text 
books  in  the  next  year,  if  the  desired  law  were  not  enacted, 
and  the  liquor  people  were  aroused  to  oppose  it. 

The  National  Superintendent,  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Hunt,  was  ex- 
pected to  be  here  and  conduct  the  campaign,  but  work  before 
Congress  detained  her  at  Washington.  The  State  Superin- 
tendent, Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer,  having  done  the  preliminary 


44 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


work,  entered  upon  this.  The  resources  of  the  Union  were 
entirely  in  the  Bank  of  Faith,  so  the  president  borrowed 
twenty  dollars  for  postage  and  obtained  credit  for  printing. 
Classified  petition  heads  were  prepared  with  separate  columns, 
for  several  professions,  as  well  as  for  “Business  men  and 
other  voters,”  and  “Women.”  Never  was  better  work  done. 
One  hundred  and  fifty  petitions  were  sent  to  local  Unions, 
and  they  all  returned  true  as  the  carrier  dove  to  the  hand  that 
sent  them  out,  and  richly  laden.  One  hundred  and  fifty  were 
sent  to  other  friends,  but  generally  they  did  not  come  back — 
proving  the  value  of  organization,  and  that  there  must  always 
be  some  one  whose  specific  duty  it  is  to  do  the  thing  required 
to  be  done.  This  classification  showed  400  ministers,  350 
physicians,  300  lawyers,  225  school  trustees,  1100  school 
teachers,  including  the  entire  faculty  of  the  State  University, 
and  the  officers  of  the  State  Normal  School,  with  the  longer 
columns  of  men  and  women. 

Southern  California  sent  Miss  Emma  Harriman  to  Sacra- 
mento to  share  the  first  legislative  work  undertaken  by  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  Miss  Harriman  was  able,  experienced  and  very 
helpful,  but  was  compelled  by  illness  to  return  to  her  home 
before  the  session  was  over.  Nine  weary  weeks  they  waited, 
watched  and  worked.  The  bill  passed  the  Senate  early  and 
easily,  but  dragged  slowly  in  the  Assembly.  Daily,  when 
“Petitions”  were  in  order,  members  rose  and  read  petitions — 
over  fifty  members  having  to  read  them  from  their  home 
towns,  signed  by  their  friends  and  neighbors.  The  enemy  had 
no  hope  of  killing  the  bill  except  by  parliamentary  tactics  that 
made  delays.  In  some  mysterious  manner  a number  of  bills 
were  set  back  on  the  file,  of  which  this  was  one,  but  late  on 
the  last  day  of  the  session  the  psychological  moment  came, 
when  the  author  of  the  bill  was  called  to  take  the  Speaker’s 
chair.  A friend  called  for  the  second  reading  of  Bill  150. 
It  was  objected  that  300  bills  were  still  awaiting  a third  read- 
ing, but  the  chair  ruled  that  nearly  all  counties  had  petitioned 
for  this  one,  and  it  must  be  heard.  The  other  300  were  not 
reached,  and  at  9 p.  m.  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  were 
suspended  to  allow  its  third  reading,  and  it  became  a law  by  a 
vote  of  57  members,  54  being  necessary  for  its  passage.  No 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


45 


one  voted  against  it.  It  was  the  last  bill  of  that  session. 

California  has  the  honor  of  having  passed  this  bill  unani- 
mously in  both  houses.  It  was  signed  by  Governor  Bartlett 
March  15th.  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  all  members  fa- 
vored the  bill.  Many  had  said  in  personal  interviews,  “I  can- 
not vote  for  that,  or,  “My  constituents  will  never  send  me 
here  again  if  I vote  for  that,”  or  “I  would  like  to  do  it,  but 
am  pledged  to  do  nothing  that  will  reflect  on  the  liquor  traffic,” 
or  similar  excuses,  but  invariably  these  men,  within  a few 
days,  received  letters  from  home  ,or  were  handed  petitions 
from  their  home  towns  which  they  had  to  present  personally. 
The  friendly  members  were  able  and  strong  men,  and  earned 
the  gratitude  of  all  by  their  faithful  care  of  “Assembly  Bill 
150.” 

After  the  session  was  over,  a senator  of  many  years  experi- 
ence remarked  to  Mrs.  Spencer  that  “there  had  never  been 
so  many  personal  letters  written  to  members  in  behalf  of  any 
bill  as  this  one.”  She  held  out  to  him  the  directory  of  Local 
Unions,  saying,  “Every  name  there  represents  a woman  with 
a pen  in  her  hand.” 

How  the  Bill  Was  Paid. 

Two  weeks  before  the  bill  passed,  the  president,  Mrs. 
Churchill,  went  to  Sacramento  to  aid  and  cheer  Mrs.  Spencer. 
To  others  it  was  already  a lost  cause,  but  their  unwavering 
faith  that  day  prepared  a program  for  a “Praise  Meeting”  to 
be  held  by  all  local  Unions,  when  the  bill  should  pass,  at 
which  collections  should  be  taken  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the 
winter.  The  Unions  responded  promptly,  and  the  little  blue 
postal  orders  from  everywhere,  exactly  covered  all  the  bills. 
Everything  requisite  had  been  fully  provided,  and  like  heav- 
enly manna,  the  money  came  to  pay  for  it  all. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  legislature,  the  president  and 
Mrs.  Spencer  gave  their  time  to  field  work,  lecturing,  organiz- 
ing, attending  county  conventions  and  visiting  local  unions. 
Mrs.  Eyster,  Supt.  Juvenile  Work,  gave  eighteen  lectures 
and  organized  many  Loyal  Temperance  Legions. 

1888. 

This  Convention  met  at  Woodland,  and  was  in  session  four 
days.  Mrs.  Churchill,  whose  strong  individuality,  wise  coun- 


46 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


sels,  and  perfect  serenity  of  manner  had  endeared  her  to  all, 
retired  from  the  presidency  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Rosa- 
mond R.  Johnston. 

The  Secretary  records  132  Unions,  of  which  36  are  Y’s  with 
more  than  one  thousand  members,  the  various  Juvenile  soci- 
eties, under  many  names,  are  not  numbered,  but  give  proof 
of  the  splendid  work  by  and  for  the  young.  The  advance  in 
organization  is  striking. 

A salary  of  $50  a month  was  provided  for  the  office  of 
president. 

The  St.  Louis  Resolution. 

This  being  the  year  of  a presidential  election,  the  St.  Louis 
resolution  of  1884  by  which  the  National  Convention  pledged 
its  sympathy  and  prayers  to  the  party  making  the  liquor 
traffic  a political  issue,  which  had  annually  come  up  for  dis- 
cussion, assumed  increased  interest,  and  was  endorsed  by  a 
vote  of  105  to  24. 

The  distinguished  Pundita  Ramabai  was  a guest  and 
speaker. 

Alameda  County. 

The  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  Pasadena  case, 
given  last  year,  favorable  to  the  California  Local  Option  Law, 
gave  a great  impetus  to  that  line  of  work,  and  many  campaigns 
were  conducted  in  this  year,  and  as  usual  when  campaigning, 
the  Unions  grew  in  numbers  and  strength.  Fifteen  organ- 
ized counties  reported.  The  report  of  Alameda  county,  given 
by  the  president,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  is  an  honor  to  the 
State.  Indeed  that  county,  in  1888,  was  the  banner  county 
in  the  United  States,  having  1350  active  and  150  honorary 
members,  twenty-two  Unions,  of  which  ten  were  Y’s,  and  thir- 
teen Loyal  Legions,  with  450  members.  Used  $2,221.00  for 
local  work,  $500  for  the  county,  paid  $570.00  to  State,  and 
pledged  $500.00  to  the  Temple  at  Chicago.  One  speaker. 
Col.  Woodford,  was  engaged  for  ten  weeks  at  $100.00  a week, 
Mrs.  Skelton  and  Mrs.  Stevens  for  shorter  terms  of  time  and 
less  money,  and  every  town  in  the  county  visited  by  each 
speaker — 150  lectures  being  given,  the  county  canvassed  with 
seven  different  petitions,  a local  option  campaign  waged  in 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


47 


Berkeley,  and  all  departments  pushed.  No  wonder  they 
gained  450  members. 

The  name  of  the  State  paper,  “The  Bulletin,”  being  the 
same  as  that  of  a popular  daily,  confusion  in  the  mails  oc- 
curred frequently,  so  the  name  was  changed  to  “The  Pharos.” 

The  Annual  Conference  at  Pacific  Grove  became  the  “School 
of  Methods.” 

Reports  of  local  unions  tell  of  conditions  of  which  the  later 
generations  should  know,  for  instance:  Fall  River  Valley,  in 
the  eastern  hills  of  Shasta,  whose  members  live  from  two  to 
sixteen  miles  apart;  they  meet  semi-monthly  and  carry  a 
Band  of  Hope ; or  the  Columbia  Y’s,  the  only  union  in 
Tuolumne  County,  also  meet  semi-monthly,  sustain  a Band  of 
Hope,  a small  Loan  Library,  a box  in  the  Post  Office  for  liter- 
ature, and  raised  $75.00  at  a Fair  of  which  they  sent  one 
third  to  the  state  union. 

These  are  types  of  many  valiant  little  unions  whose  heroic 
lives  may  have  gone  out  with  the  changes  and  chances  that 
come  to  all,  but  the  results  of  their  efforts  are  the  rich 
inheritance  of  the  present. 

In  one  case  a strong  union  was  worked  up  by  the  per- 
sistency and  patient  efforts  of  one  woman  where  neighbors 
and  friends  lived  far  apart.  She  used  to  drive  over  the  hot 
plains,  where  roadside  saloons  afforded  the  only  drinking  place 
for  man  or  beast.  She  drove  very  fast  by  these,  and  rewarded 
her  horse  by  stopping  at  the  next  farm  house  well,  until  the 
faithful  animal  was  so  trained  by  habit  that  he  would  not  stop 
near  the  water  troughs  of  the  roadhouses. 

Temperance  horses  of  this  kind  were  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon, and  each  gave  evidence  of  some  woman’s  rare  devotion. 

1889. 

The  Tenth  Convention  met  at  Napa  with  114  Women’s 
Unions  and  30  Y’s  and  marked  a year  of  progress. 

The  legislative  work  of  the  year  included  splendid  canvass- 
ing with  petitions  for  a “Sunday  Rest  Bill,”  a bill  to  raise  the 
age  of  protection  for  girls  from  ten  to  eighteen  years,  a “Muni- 
cipal Suffrage  Bill,”  a “Police  Matron  Bill”  and  an  “Anti- 
Tobacco  Bill.” 

The  Sunday  Rest  Bill  was  favorably  reported  by  the  Com- 


48 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


mittee  on  Public  Morals,  but  did  not  pass.  The  Age  of  Pro- 
tection was  raised  to  fourteen  years.  A bill  to  provide  police 
matrons  for  cities  of  over  30,000  inhabitants  was  secured. 

Mrs.  Mary  M.  Negus,  Superintendent  of  Purity,  stayed  at 
Sacramento  during  the  entire  session,  at  her  own  expense,  do- 
ing valiant  work  for  these  bills,  aided  by  Mrs.  M.  J.  Mayhew, 
Superintendent  of  Sabbath  Observance.  County  reports  are 
all  fine — that  of  Alameda  following  last  year’s  splendid  work, 
says:  “Better  conditions  on  better  foundations  than  ever 
before.” 

Mrs.  Emma  Colwell,  president  of  Fresno  county,  drove  over 
700  miles  in  her  own  buggy,  alone,  and  mostly  at  her  own 
expense,  over  roads  or  no  roads,  doing  all  kinds  of  work 
successfully — pioneering  that  should  not  be  forgotten. 

Hoopa  Indians. 

Humboldt  also  had  a report  of  special  interest.  This  county 
first  raised  the  funds  for  expenses,  and  then  invited  Mrs. 
Spencer  to  do  evangelistic  work  for  four  months,  visiting  not 
only  all  the  towns,  but  the  far  off  sheep  ranges,  tan  bark,  and 
lumber  camps — in  short,  every  place  in  that  big  county  where 
a hearing  could  be  had.  Once  a civilized  Christian  Indian  sat 
in  the  audience,  and  caught  a new  idea  of  the  influence  of 
organized  womanhood.  He  came  to  Mrs.  Spencer  the  next 
day  and  told  of  the  condition  of  his  people,  the  Hoopa  Indians 
— practically  imprisoned  in  a reservation,  under  military 
guard,  in  an  inaccessible  mountain  gorge,  where,  as  he  said, 
“Everything  is  done  behind  the  door;  no  one  sees,  and  no 
one  can  tell.  I have  tried  to  get  some  one  to  tell  this  to  the 
government,  but  no  one  will.  The  banks  and  business  men 
make  too  much  money  by  it.  I ask  the  member  of  Congress. 
He  knows  me ; he  say,  Tt  is  all  true,  but  I can’t,’  and  I know 
why, — the  men  that  nominate  him,  they  make  money  too,  out 
of  military  post.  Now,  you  represent  many  Christian  women ; 
you  have  no  money,  no  politics,  and  no  reason  to  tell  lies.  The 
government  will  believe  what  you  say.  Will  you  go  and  see 
my  people,  and  tell  the  government  what  you  see?” 

His  anxious  face  was  irresistible.  She  promised.  At  the 
end  of  her  four  months’  engagement,  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
John  Walker,  the  wife  of  his  employer,  who  would  not  per- 


STATE  OFFICERS 


MRS.  1^.  P.  WII.LIAMS 


MRS.  NELTAE  BEESSTNG  EYSTER 


MRS.  .MARY  H.  FIELD 


MRS.  ANNIE  LITTLE  BARRY 


Recording-  Secretaries 


S'l'ATE  OFFICERS 


MRS.  IOWA  M.  HOLSTON 


MRS.  EMILY  HOPPIN 


Treasurers 


STATE  OFFICERS 


DR.  C.  ANNETTE  BUCKEL 


MRS.  JOSEPH  KNOWLAND 


MRS.  SARAH  C.  SANDFORD 


Auditors 


MRS.  INA  ORVIS 


STATE  OFFICERS 


MRS.  ALICE  M.  BOWMAN 
Secretary  L.  T.  L.  Branch 


MRS.  MARY  F.  GILLEY 
Secretary  L.  T.  L.  Branch 


MISS  SARAH  M.  SEVERANCE 
Suffrage 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  LOWE  WATSON 
Leaders 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


49 


boarding  school  in  the  barracks.  We  want  the  white  man’s 
law,  the  white  man’s  school,  and  the  white  man’s  church.” 

She  reported  what  she  had  seen  to  the  Indian  Office  at 
Washington,  also  sending  copies  of  her  report  to  any  societies 
or  individuals  likely  to  be  interested,  but  not  until  one  of  her 
letters  reached  President  Harrison  was  any  action  taken.  He 
promptly  ordered  Fort  Gaston,  the  military  post,  investigated, 
sending  Dr.  Daniel  Dorchester  there  for  the  purpose.  His 
report  fully  corroborated  Mrs.  Spencer’s,  and  as  soon  as  exist- 
ing contracts  could  be  completed  and  official  red  tape  brought 
into  requisition,  the  Post  was  abolished  and  the  school  estab- 
lished. “The  white  man’s  church”  was  planted  later  on,  when 
the  Indian  Association  sent  a missionary  there.  Mrs.  Spen- 
cer continued  her  plea  for  the  mission  before  every  accessible 
denominational  body  for  ten  years,  when  the  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Missions  undertook  the  work.  Their  missionary. 
Miss  M.  E.  Chase,  was  a White  Ribboner,  formerly  of  Sonoma 
County,  one  who  had  been  coveted  for  the  first  president  of 
the  state  union,  but  was  providentially  ready  for  this  field. 
She  became  the  pastor,  counsellor  and  loving  friend  of  all 
the  tribe,  whom  she  faithfully  served  for  many  years. 

Mrs.  Spencer  revisited  Hoopa  after  fifteen  years  and  was 
surprised  to  find  herself  remembered  gratefully  by  the  In- 
dians as  “the  woman  that  sent  the  soldiers  away.”  Thus  the 
prayer  of  the  Indians  was  abundantly  answered,  but  the  In- 
dian whose  devotion  and  sagacity  brought  about  these 
changes  did  not  live  to  see  his  vision  realized,  but  died  con- 
tent in  the  faith  that  it  was  all  coming,  and  in  his  last  hours 
thought  himself  surrounded  by  women  wearing  the  white 
ribbon — to  his  mind  the  symbol  of  his  people’s  redemption. 

This  was  the  last  field  work  of  Mrs.  Spencer  as  she  was 
transferred  to  the  headquarters  as  Corresponding  Secretary. 
The  demands  of  the  state  work  now  required  the  office,  to  be 
kept  open  every  day  and  the  secretary  in  attendance.  She  be- 
came ex-officio  superintendent  of  literature  and  took  charge 
of  the  depository  now  established,  with  the  same  salary  as 
the  president. 

1890. 

The  11th  annual  convention  at  Stockton  was  full  of  won- 
derful reports  of‘  personal  sacrifice  and  devotion,  and  conse- 


50 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


quent  development  in  all  lines  The  first  County  report— 
that  of  Alameda,  reads : “The  work  has  strengthened  and 
deepened  in  intent,  as  we  have  set  our  stakes  for  the  anni- 
hilation of  the  saloon,  and  for  local  prohibition.”  Other 
counties  echo  the  strain. 

A notable  feature  this  year  has  been  the  steady  growth  of 
the  “True  Blue  Cadets”  from  the  small  beginning  in  1883  in 
Oakland,  having  now  four  fully  equipped  and  well-drilled 
companies  of  young  men  and  boys  in  Alameda  County,  and 
reaching  out  to  other  parts  of  the  State.  The  State  had  now 
two  organizers,  Mrs.  Henrietta  Skelton  and  Mrs.  Emma  Pow 
Smith,  than  whom  none  could  have  been  more  devoted,  tireless 
and  efficient.  Their  labors  were  abundantly  fruitful.  The  or- 
ganization of  counties  now  made  it  possible  to  arrange  for 
lectures,  and  to  call  in  from  other  States  many  accredited 
speakers  who  all  helped  to  promote  aggressive  work. 

Incorporation  of  the  Pacific  Ensign. 

The  president,  Mrs.  Johnston,  felt  strongly  the  inadequacy 
of  a monthly  paper,  and  the  necessity  of  more  frequent  means 
of  communication.  She  so  clearly  presented  this  idea,  that 
the  convention  voted  to  undertake  the  publication  of  a weekly 
paper,  and  to  incorporate  a joint  stock  company  for  that  pur- 
pose. Judge  Elliott  kindly  explained  the  laws  relating  to 
such  undertakings — the  members  being  unfamiliar  with  stock 
companies  or  corporations,  but  anxious  to  learn.  The  plan 
presented,  was  to  sell  stock  to  members  only,  at  ten  dollars 
per  share,  payable  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  a year.  As  a pre- 
liminary, the  names  of  prospective  stockholders  were  taken 
and  a stockholders’  meeting  called  at  the  State  Headquarters 
the  next  week.  Seventy-one  women  gave  in  their  names.  The 
law  required  a Board  of  Directors  of  from  five  to  eleven  mem- 
bers, to  be  elected  at  the  meeting,  and  it  was  decided  that 
nothing  less  than  the  larger  number  would  be  sufficient  to 
share  the  new  responsibilities. 

The  day — December  3rd,  1890 — and  the  stockholders’  meet- 
ing came,  but  nearly  every  woman  who  had  a husband  had 
been  informed  by  him  that  she  had  best  keep  out  of  that  con- 
cern; that  every  man,  being  responsible  for  his  wife’s  debts, 
had  a right  to  withhold  his  consent  to  an  enterprise  that  might 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


51 


involve  him.  Some,  who  had  no  husbands,  had  sons  equally 
free  with  good  advice.  The  upshot  of  it  was  that  there  were 
but  seven  stockholders  left  to  organize  the  company.  Each 
one  made  the  first  payment  of  two  dollars  on  one  share  of 
stock,  and  that  $14.00  was  the  capital  on  which  the  “Pacific 
Ensign”  started. 

The  seven  stockholders  who  constituted  the  first  Board  of 
Directors  were:  Mrs.  Ada  Van  Pelt,  President;  Mrs.  Adeline 
W .Weed,  Vice  President;  Mrs.  Laura  P.  Williams,  Mrs. 
Rosamond  R.  Johnston,  Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer,  Dr.  Rebecca 
C.  Hallowell  and  Miss  Winnie  Morris. 

Miss  Julia  M.  French,  a non-stockholder,  was  elected  Secre- 
tary, and  rendered  invaluable  service.  Mrs.  R.  R.  Johnston 
was  elected  Editor  and  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer,  Business  Manager. 

The  entire  capital  was  used  for  fees  of  incorporation, — a 
kind  legal  friend  donating  his  services.  The  women  rose 
promptly  to  the  occasion,  and  money  came  in  so  freely  for 
stock  and  subscriptions  that  the  little  eight-page  paper  was 
ready  to  be  launched  January  1st,  1891. 

On  the  morning  that  the  first  issue  was  to  go  to  press  the 
Business  Manager  awoke  to  find  her  husband  lying  dead 
beside  her.  Her  duties  were  taken  up  by  others,  and  kind 
hands  mailed  the  initial  number  of  the  “Ensign.”  The  day 
the  next  issue  came  out  was  also  the  day  of  the  State  Execu- 
tive Meeting,  and  the  President,  Mrs.  Johnston,  who  was  also 
Editor  of  the  “Ensign,”  resigned  both  positions,  to  accompany 
her  husband  to  an  eastern  city  to  which  his  interests  had 
called  him.  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  Vice  President,  succeeded 
to  the  presidency  of  the  State,  and  Mrs.  Ada  Van  Pelt  was 
chosen  to  edit  the  “Ensign.” 

This  would  seem  to  be  an  unpromising  beginning  of  a 
doubtful  venture,  but  the  “Ensign”  became  the  pet  child  of 
the  State  Union — serving  to  bind  together  its  distant  members 
by  its  weekly  visits,  as  nothing  else  could  have  done.  It  held 
together  those  who  labored  for  it  in  bonds  of  friendship  and 
union  that  are  only  welded  by  the  “long  pull,  the  strong  pull 
and  the  pull  altogether.”  Naturally,  there  were  changes  in 
the  personnel  of  its  staff,  Mrs.  Spencer  being  the  only  Director 
who  served  continuously  from  start  to  finish.  Its  editors, 
Mesdames  Van  Pelt,  Eyster,  Lord,  Southard  and  Severance 


52 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


were  able  and  gracious.  Miss  Severance  edited  the  portion 
devoted  to  Suffrage,  called  the  “Overlook,”  which  proved  a 
great  factor  in  the  education  of  sentiment  on  that  important 
issue. 

The  Ensign  lived  a useful  life  and  paid  its  way,  but  did  not 
die  a natural  death.  Like  the  small  boy  who  survived  so 
many  calamities  that  the  neighbors  said  nothing  but  hanging 
could  kill  him,  the  weekly  Ensign  lived  through  trials  and 
difficulties  untold,  until  earthquake  and  fire  wiped  out  its 
existence. 

Lecture  of  Mrs.  St.  John. 

A plan  carried  out  that  year  was,  at  the  same  time,  so  help- 
ful to  the  general  objects  of  the  local  Union,  and  to  the  State 
finances,  that  it  is  worthy  of  record.  The  Rev.  Eugenia  St. 
John — an  able  speaker — was  engaged  for  fifty  lectures ; these 
lectures  were  assigned  to  fifty  localities,  the  local  Unions  in 
each  place  being  required  to  pay  ten  dollars  for  the  lecture, 
besides  which,  the  collection  taken  at  each  lecture,  was  to  be 
sent  to  the  State  Treasurer,  to  be  divided  between  State  and 
local  Unions.  The  valuable  point  of  this  plan  was  that  each 
Union,  having  that  ten  dollars  to  pay,  had  to  build  up  an 
audience.  They  could  not  afford  to  trifle.  In  every  case  the 
ten  dollars  was  ready,  and  a good  audience  furnished  the  in- 
spiration for  a good  speech,  and  a good  collection,  while  reach- 
ing a large  number  of  people.  The  Unions  were  happy,  for 
the  plan  was  a complete  success  from  every  point  of  view. 


1891. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Success  of  the  Ensign.  Pacific  Coast  Conference.  The  First 
Dry  County.  Sanitary  District  Law. 

The  Twelfth  Convention,  at  Oakland,  had  the  joy  of  suc- 
cess in  the  weekly  paper.  The  women  had  risen  to  the  oc- 
casion, stock  was  bought  and  a fair  subscription  list  and  ad- 
vertising patronage  secured.  The  Business  Manager  had  es- 
timated the  cost  of  the  paper  at  $3,000,  for  the  year,  but  had 
succeeded  in  maintaining  it  for  $2,006.00,  remarking  in  her 
report  “That  it  has  been  done  for  less  than  the  estimate,  is 
more  creditable  to  those  who  have  done  the  work,  than  to 
those  who  have  allowed  it  to  be  done  in  such  a restricted 
way.”  It  paid  cash  down,  current  rates  for  all  labor  and  sup- 
plies,— its  only  debt  being  the  huge  debt  of  love  to  the  women 
whose  gratuitous  labor  contributed  so  largely  to  its  success. 

That  paragraph  tells  the  story  of  the  “Ensign”  during  its 
whole  fifteen  years.  It  was  undoubtedly  worth  all  it  cost,  in 
building  up  and  cementing  the  fabric  of  the  organization,  and 
bridged  a period  when  nothing  else  could  have  served  its  pur- 
poses. 

The  president  spent  much  of  the  winter  at  Sacramento,  in 
the  legislature.  Petitions  were  presented  for  a “Sunday 
Law;”  for  “Equal  Suffrage”  and  to  “Prohibit  the  Sale  of  To- 
bacco to  Minors.”  Mrs.  Purvis,  Supt.  of  Anti-Narcotics,  pre- 
sented the  latter,  and  it  became  a law.  The  Suffrage  Bill 
passed  the  Senate,  and  was  killed  in  the  Assembly.  The  Sun- 
day Rest  Bill  was  defeated,  though  its  discussion  created 
great  interest. 

Pacific  Coast  Conference. 

The  National  Union,  at  the  instance  of  the  Oregon  W.  C. 
T.  U.,  which  was  the  hostess  of  the  occasion,  sent  the  National 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Buel,  and  Treasurer  Miss 
Esther  Pugh  to  Portland,  Oregon,  to  hold  a conference  with 
Pacific  Coast  leaders.  Oregon,  California — northern  and 


54 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


southern — Washington  and  Idaho  were  represented.  Califor- 
nia sent  its  President  and  Corresponding  Secretary ; Mrs. 
Stevens,  of  California,  was  there,  having  been  organizing  in 
the  north  for  some  time,  and  Mrs.  Edholm,  also  of  California, 
was  present  with  ready  pen,  as  the  official  Reporter. 

The  exigencies  of  this  year  called  for  a new  department,  as 
the  special  activity  in  County  campaigns  was  not  included  in 
those  existing,  so  that  of  the  “No  License  Campaign”  was  cre- 
ated, and  Mrs.  Mary  Bell  Mallory,  whose  unfailing  enthusiasm 
and  unflinching  courage,  made  her  a natural  leader,  was  ap- 
pointed its  Superintendent.  The  name  of  the  department  was 
afterwards  changed  to  that  of  “Christian  Citizenship.”  It  is 
one  more  of  the  important  departments  now  operating  in  all 
States,  that  had  its  origin  in  this  state. 

The  success  of  a Tri-County  Union, — Santa  Cruz,  San  Beni- 
to and  Monterey — having  been  so  organized  originally,  when 
neither  county  could  sustain  its  work  alone,  suggested  Bi- 
County  organization  where  a weak  county  might  be  united  to 
its  neighbor,  until  such  time  as  it  became  strong  enough  for 
independence.  Yuba  and  Sutter  were  the  first  counties  to 
form  such  a Union,  in  1891 ; in  1892,  Colusa  and  Glenn ; 1893, 
Tulare  and  Kings;  in  1895,  Sonoma  and  Marin;  in  1898,  San 
Joaquin  and  Calaveras;  Fresno  and  Madera,  Sacramento  and 
El  Dorado,  Santa  Clara  and  San  Mateo,  Stanislaus  and  Mer- 
ced. In  1912  Fresno  and  Madera,  and  Tulare  and  Kings  consti- 
tute the  only  Bi-County  Unions.  These  latter  have  been  once 
separated,  but  finding  that  action  premature,  resumed  their  old 
relations. 

What  the  Ministers  Thought. 

Illustrative  of  conditions  and  sentiment  at  this  time,  is  an 
extract  from  the  minutes  of  a county  convention  in  the  spring 
of  1891.  A feature  in  the  program  was  a discussion  by  nine 
ministers  on  the  question,  “How  can  we  unite  the  votes  of 
the  Christian  men  of  the  county  against  the  Liquor  Traffic?” 

The  first  speaker  “denied  the  statement  often  made  that  a 
man  cannot  be  a Christian  and  vote  for  the  political  parties 
that  perpetuate  the  traffic.” 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


55 


The  second,  opened  and  closed  his  remarks  by  saying  “I 
do  not  know  anything  about  it.” 

The  third,  said  “We  must  extend  sympathy  and  Christian 
charity  to  the  saloon  keeper  and  distiller.” 

The  fourth  said  “I  wouldn’t  vote  whiskey  out  of  the  county 
if  I could;  and  couldn’t  if  I would.” 

The  fifth,  “urged  the  training  of  children  in  temperance, 
when  they  reach  the  years  of  manhood  they  will  rise  in  their 
might  and  crush  out  the  traffic.” 

The  sixth,  proposed  that  “the  American  saloons  being  a 
respectable  legalized  institution,  the  people  should  buy  them 
out.” 

The  seventh,  “knew  no  way  in  which  the  votes  of  Christian 
men  could  be  counted  against  the  traffic.” 

The  eighth  said,  “Present  the  saloon  keeper  with  a better 
religious  and  political  creed,  and  he  will  become  followers  of 
them.” 

The  ninth,  made  a forceful  argument  in  favor  of  temperance, 
“He  believed  in  the  platform  of  the  prohibition  party ; there 
was  hope  of  a final  victory  for  the  temperance  cause.” 

There  was  just  one  in  the  nine  trained  men — not  to  say 
divinely  appointed — instructors  of  the  people  who  saw  the 
star  of  future  victory.  Were  not  the  blind  leading  the  blind? 
This  reflects  the  dim  and  uncertain  views  of  that  period,  and 
goes  to  show  that  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  had  clearer  vision  in  its 
policy  of  “doing  everything”whereby  to  educate  public  opin- 
ion. That  county  and  many  others  are  “dry”  now,  and  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  no  religious  teachers  are  so  bewildered  now  on 
any  great  moral  issue. 

Sutter  County  “Dry.” 

The  climax  of  the  year’s  success  was  reached  when  Sutter 
County  secured  Prohibition  by  a county  ordinance,  and  so 
had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  “dry”  county  in  the 
State.  The  W.  C.  T.  U.,  under  Mrs.  Ida  Frances  Lee,  the 
county  president,  worked  hard  for  votes,  and  raised  $2,000  for 
expenses. 


56 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


(Copy  of  Ordinance.) 

AN  ORDINANCE 

For  the  Purpose  of  Police  Regulation,  by  Prohibiting  Places  and 
Things  of  Immoral  Character,  Fixing  a Penalty  for  its  Violation, 

and  Providing  for  the  Taking  Effect  and  Publication  Thereof. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county  of  Sutter  do  ordain  as 
follows: 

Section  1.  It  shall  be  and  is  hereby  made  unlawful  for  any  person 
or  persons,  either  as  owners,  principals,  agents,  servants  or  em- 
ployes, to  establish,  open,  keep,  maintain,  carry  on  or  assist  in  carry- 
ing on  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  county  of  Sutter,  State  of 
California,  any  tippling-house,  dram-shop,  cellar,  saloon,  bar,  bar- 
room, sample-room  or  other  place  where  spiritous,  vinous,  malt, 
mixed,  or  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold  or  given  away;  or  any  gam- 
bling room  or  other  place  of  immoral  or  indecent  character;  provided 
that  the  prohibition  of  this  Ordinance  shall  not  apply  to  the  sale  of 
liquors  for  medicinal  or  chemical  purposes,  by  regularly  licensed 
druggists,  upon  the  prescription  of  a physician  entitled  to  practice 
medicine  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  California. 

Section  2.  Any  act  in  violation  of  this  Ordinance  shall  be  con- 
strued a separate  offense  for  each  day  of  its  continuance. 

Section  3.  Every  person  who  violates  any  of  the  provisions  of 
this  Ordinance  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  upon 
conviction  thereof  before  any  Court  having  jurisdiction  thereof  shall 
be  punished  by  a fine  not  exceeding  three  hundred  and  sixty  dollars 
or  by  imprisonment  in  the  County  Jail  of  the  County  of  Sutter  not 
exceeding  six  months,  or  by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Section  4.  All  Ordinances  or  parts  of  Ordinances  in  conflict  with 
this  Ordinance  are  hereby  repealed. 

Section  5.  This  Ordinance  shall  take  effect  on  the  first  day  of 
October  A.  D.  1891,  and  before  taking  effect  shall  be  published  for  one 
week  in  the  “Sutter  Independent,”  a newspaper  of  general  circulation 
in  Sutter  county. 

Passed  and  approved  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Sutter  county, 
California,  this  8th  day  of  September,  A.  D.  1891,  by  the  following 
vote: 

Ayes — W.  T.  Spilman,  P.  L.  Bunce,  L-  Summy,  L.  P.  Farmer,  W. 
H.  Smith. 

Noes — None. 

L.  P.  FARMER, 

Chairman  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Sutter  County. 

(Attest)  A.  H.  HEWITT, 

Clerk  of  said  Board 

(Seal)  By  W.  D.  Woodworth, 

Deputy. 


MRS.  ANNIE  K.  BID  WELL  GENERAL  JOHN  BID  WELL 

Pi’ohibition  Leadei’s 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  SARAH  C.  BORLAND 


MRS.  SARAH  McCLEES 


MRS.  HARRIET  E.  McMATH 


Alameda 


DR.  NINA  J.  CROAKE 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  PAULINE  MATHEWS  MRS.  MARGARET  B.  PELTON 

Supt.  Sunday  School  Dept. 


MRS.  S.  M.  M.  WOODMAN 


DR.  CARRIE  F.  YOUNG 
Pioneer  Suffragist 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  C.  M.  COOPER 


Amador 


MRS  L.  J.  FASSETT. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


57 


1892. 

The  Thirteenth  Convention  met  at  San  Jose  and  closed  a 
year  rich  in  aggressive  efforts,  w^ith  183  Unions  and  4,710 
members. 

Early  in  the  year  it  became  necessary  either  to  take  the 
other  half  of  the  building,  132  McAllister  st.,  where  Head- 
quarters were  located,  or  to  move.  It  was  decided  to  lease 
the  house,  hoping  by  sub-letting  to  produce  revenue  for  State 
work.  The  result  was  that  the  receipts  exceeded  expenses, 
but  the  experiment  was  unsatisfactory,  and  it  was  given  up 
without  loss  or  substantial  gain,  and  also  without  removal. 

Anti-Dive  Agitation. 

The  Anti-Dive  agitation  in  San  Francisco  marked  the  work 
of  this  year.  Beginning  early  in  the  year,  with  the  co-opera- 
tion of  apparently  all  the  best  elements  of  the  city,  great  mass 
meetings  were  addressed  by  the  ablest  speakers  every  Sunday 
afternoon  at  Metropolitan  Temple,  followed  next  day  by  a 
descent  upon  the  meeting  of  the  Supervisors,  to  present  a de- 
mand for  an  ordinance  to  prohibit  the  employment  of  women 
in  Dives  and  Saloons.  Week  after  week,  the  crowd  gathered 
every  Monday  afternoon,  filling  the  broad  corridors  of  the 
City  Hall,  while  the  Supervisors  sat  with  closed  doors,  too 
busy  to  admit  anyone.  Business  and  professional  men,  or 
even  busy  housewives,  could  not  go  on  indefinitely  with  this 
fruitless  effort,  and  were  at  last  worn  out.  When  the  Super- 
visors were  ready  to  admit  the  petitioners,  there  were  only 
the  State  Secretary  and  County  President  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
to  prefer  their  request.  The  attorney  of  the  German  Saloon 
Keepers’  Union  managed  that  matter,  and  as  his  reward  of 
merit  received  the  nomination  for  Superior  Judge  from  the 
ensuing  Republican  Convention.  He  was  elected — of  course 
— but  the  agitation  and  co-operation  of  the  multitude  had  been 
an  irresistible  force,  and  the  ordinance  was  secured. 

Mrs.  Eyster’s  School  Lectures. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary  had  been  nursing  a plan  for 
years  to  send  out  a woman  to  visit  schools,  with  the  object 
of  popularizing  temperance  instruction.  Mrs.  Nellie  B. 
Eyster  was  eminently  fitted  for  this  work,  equipped  as  she 
was  with  the  grace  that  captivates  children,  and  the  ability 


58 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


to  aid  teachers ; so  she  was  duly  appointed.  The  work  could 
not  be  done  for  less  than  $75  a month,  and  to  meet  this 
expense  the  State  Union  assumed  one-half  of  the  salary — $25 
• — each  county  desiring  her  services  paid  $25,  and  the  local 
Unions  paid  traveling  and  incidental  expenses,  and  provided 
entertainment.  The  State  Union  had  no  resources  but  the 
generosity  of  its  friends,  and  Mr.  Edward  Coleman,  of  Grass 
Valley,  was  the  friend  in  need  who  pledged  $25  a month  for 
this  special  object.  This  contribution  was  promptly  paid,  not 
only  for  the  three  years  that  Mrs.  Eyster  continued  this  work, 
but  the  same  sum  was  given  with  equal  regularity  for  general 
purposes  during  the  next  two  years.  This  gracious  gift,  which 
made  it  possible  to  carry  on  such  invaluable  instruction  in 
so  many  schools  throughout  the  State,  was  given  anonymous- 
ly, and  just  when  it  was  most  helpful.  Teachers  had  not  then 
arrived  at  the  best  and  most  effective  methods  of  meeting  the 
requirements  of  the  new  law,  and  this  timely  aid  was  of  the 
greatest  assistance  to  them  in  carrying  on  the  work.  Grati- 
tude for  past  kindness  will  justify,  at  this  late  day,  the  publi- 
cation of  the  donor’s  name,  and  it  is  but  fair  to  say  that  the 
same  kind  hand  has  helped  in  many  emergencies  since. 

Mrs.  Eyster  and  her  undertaking  were  each  a brilliant  suc- 
cess. Her  charming  lecture  “The  Man  Wonderful  in  the 
House  Beautiful”  illustrated  by  anatomical  charts  was  given 
to  thousands  of  children  in  many  counties.  In  response  to  an 
invitation  by  the  Board  of  Education,  this  lecture  was  given 
by  Mrs.  Eyster  in  forty  schools  of  San  Francisco,  in  each  one 
having  as  many  classes  massed  in  one  assembly  as  the  audi- 
torium would  contain.  This  plan  was  followed  everywhere, 
thus  reaching  an  immense  number.  It  was  splendid  work, 
well  done,  and  most  permanent  in  its  results.  Throughout 
the  State  are  hundreds  of  men  and  women,  now  active  in 
reform  work,  who  received  their  first  impulses  in  this  direc- 
tion from  Mrs.  Eyster’s  school  lectures. 

No-License  Campaigns. 

A “No  Lincense  campaign  in  Placer  County  this  year  was 
only  defeated  by  the  concentrated  forces  of  the  Liquor  Traffic 
— and  money ! Merced  County,  unable  to  secure  a prohibi- 
tion ordinance,  raised  the  liquor  license  to  $1,000  a year,  which 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


59 


the  courts  declared  to  be  unconstitutional,  because  its  amount 
was  prohibitory. 

Siskiyou  did  splendid  work  in  this  year,  under  conditions 
calling  for  personal  bravery.  At  Callahan’s  the  saloons  were 
lawless  and  defiant.  The  president  of  the  local  union  procured 
copies  of  the  law  relating  to  saloons,  and  with  hammer  and 
tacks  proceeded  to  post  the  law  in  saloons,  demanding  also 
to  see  the  bonds  of  the  saloonkeeper,  and  giving  fair  warning 
that  any  violation  would  be  followed  by  prosecution.  At 
Yreka  the  local  union  was  successfully  carrying  on  a Reading 
Room  and  Circulating  Library  on  a principal  street;  a saloon 
and  dance  house  of  the  worst  type  was  started  next  door 
in  such  close  proximity  that  the  occupants  of  the  Reading 
Room  were  often  driven  away  by  the  orgies  of  their  vicious 
neighbors.  The  women  were  obliged,  in  self  defense,  to  pros- 
ecute, and  the  man’s  license  was  revoked.  He  was  desperate 
and  tried  for  a while  to  make  further  trouble.  When  the  ex- 
citement had  subsided,  Mrs.  Churchill,  the  county  president, 
wrote  a letter  to  him  so  full  of  Christian  kindness,  that  the 
heart  of  the  man  was  touched.  He  kept  the  letter  like  a 
sacred  talisman,  and  changed  his  course  of  life  to  better  ways. 

1893. 

The  Convention  at  Stockton  represented  193  Unions  and  80 
Loyal  Temperance  Legions, — the  better  system  of  organiza- 
tion since  1890  having  brought  all  Juvenile  Societies  under 
that  name,  and  with  uniformity  of  method  3,000  children  and 
youths  were  under  the  best  system  of  training  for  future 
citizenship. 

The  legislative  efforts  of  this  year  centered  on  a bill  for 
School  Suffrage.  The  President,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet  and 
Miss  Severance,  Supt.  of  Franchise,  leading,  and  assisted  by 
other  workers.  The  Bill  was  felt  by  opponents  to  be  an  enter- 
ing wedge,  and  was  vigorously  contested,  but  passed  both 
houses  only  to  be  vetoed  by  Gov.  Gage. 

An  Extra  Session  of  the  Legislature. 

A product  of  this  session  was  a dramatic  presentation,  writ- 
ten by  Miss  Severance,  entitled,  “An  Extra  Session  of  the 
Legislature,”  which  simply  reversed  the  situation, — repre- 


60 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


senting  a legislative  body  of  women,  to  whom  men  were 
pleading  for  their  own  enfranchisement.  The  arguments  of 
the  women  were  entirely  those  that  had  been  actually  used 
against  the  enfranchisement  of  women,  but  when  turned  upon 
the  other  sex  seemed  the  wildest  absurdity  and  the  keenest 
satire.  The  play  made  a highly  instructive  entertainment, 
and,  after  being  staged  for  the  benefit  of  the  State  work  it  was 
published,  and  presented  in  many  towns  and  served  the  cause 
in  many  other  states.  It  was  a work  of  more  than  ordinary 
merit,  so  well  prepared  that  its  special  points  appeared  in  high 
relief  and  the  large  number  of  characters  represented,  pre- 
sented all  sides  of  the  question  with  telling  emphasis. 

Lake  County  secured  a “dry”  ordinance,  but  by  failure  to 
elect  officers  to  sustain  it,  it  was  lost.  Humboldt  County  voted 
itself  “dry”  by  a large  majority,  but  the  Supervisors  refused 
to  pass  the  ordinance  demanded.  The  same  fate  befell  the 
people  of  Kings  County.  Eight  counties  conducted  “No 
License”  campaigns  this  year. 

Gifted  women  had  frequently  enlivened  and  adorned  the 
public  gatherings  with  original  poems  and  songs,  but  to  Mrs. 
Grace  M.  Kimball  is  due  the  honor  of  presenting  a “Hymn” 
which  was  adopted,  and  still  loved  as  the  “State  Hymn”  dear 
for  its  association  with  all  State  Conventions  and  other  im- 
portant meetings,  and  in  remembrance  of  its  author. 

1894. 

The  Fifteenth  Convention  was  at  Sacramento,  and  reported 
the  steady  development  of  work  and  workers.  Although  this 
was  a year  of  financial  depression,  there  was  a marked  in- 
crease of  money  in  the  general  work. 

The  Temperance  Congress. 

The  event  that  most  encouraged  friends,  aroused  enemies 
and  cost  the  greatest  effort  was  the  Temperance  Congress, 
held  in  May.  Fifteen  Temperance  organizations  were  asked 
to  co-operate.  Not  all  were  able  to  do  so,  but  the  call  had 
the  effect  of  marshalling  the  hosts,  focalizing  the  best  thought 
and  compelling  attention.  This  was  one  of  the  Congresses 
held  during  the  Midwinter  Fair  at  San  Francisco.  The  plat- 
form was  occupied  by  representative  men  and  women  from 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


61 


all  over  the  State,  and  it  was  conclusively  proved  that  temper- 
ance sentiment  was  more  than  local.  Each  day’s  program 
was  under  the  auspices  of  one  of  the  organizations,  and  con- 
ducted by  its  officers.  The  general  officers  of  the  Congress 
were  Hon.  J.  E.  McComas,  of  Pasadena,  President;  Col.  O.  E. 
Moore  and  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer,  Secretaries,  with  a Board  of 
Managers,  of  which  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet  was  Chairman. 
The  “Extra  Session  of  the  Legislature”  was  rendered  on  the 
last  evening,  as  the  grand  finale  of  a highly  educational  week. 

The  highest  compliment  to  the  influence  of  this  Congress 
was  the  immediate  organization  of  the  “Law  and  Order 
League,’  made  up  of  the  city’s  best,  and,  to  combat  all  the 
forces  arrayed  for  righteousness,  “The  California  Protective 
Association”  of  liquor  dealers  sprang  up,  thus,  for  the  first 
time,  placing  themselves  on  the  defensive. 

A Strike  on  the  Railroad. 

The  School  of  Methods,  in  July,  had  peculiar  features.  The 
summer  meetings  of  this  and  other  organizations,  at  Pacific 
Grove,  had  been  greatly  facilitated  by  favors  of  transportation, 
the  use  of  Assembly  Hall  and  general  accommodations,  but 
this  year  there  was  a strike  on  the  railroads  that  seemed  to 
paralyze  everything,  and  it  appeared  impossible  to  arrange  a 
program  or  get  people  there ; but  it  was  evident  that  a failure 
to  do  so  would  cut  off  all  future  favors.  As  usual,  a full  and 
elaborate  program  was  arranged  by  the  president.  When  the 
time  arrived,  five  hundred  soldiers  had  been  ordered  to  Sacra- 
mento, and  at  every  important  point  military  uniforms  wit- 
nessed authority  to  quell  a possible  riot.  The  public  were 
afraid,  at  first,  to  travel,  but  when  the  trains  began  to  move, 
and  the  first  one  out  from  Oakland  was  seen  to  have  a detach- 
ment of  U.  S.  troops  at  each  end  of  every  car,  confidence  was 
somewhat  restored,  and  the  train  passed,  without  apparent 
damage,  over  explosives  which  had  been  placed  on  the  tracks. 
The  noise  and  confusion  was  terrifying  to  the  passengers, 
but  no  one  was  injured. 

The  women  who  bad  braved  these  conditions  carried  out 
the  entire  week’s  program,— not  one  number  of  which  was 
missed.  Therein  was  proven  the  training  the  women  had  been 
for  some  years  receiving,  for,  like  minute  men,  each  one  rose, 


62 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


without  previous  notice,  at  the  President’s  call,  and  took  the 
place  of  the  absentees  on  any  topic  whatever,  without  hesita- 
tion or  apology.  The  usual  attendance  at  a summer  resort  was 
not  there — the  town  folk  and  the  empty  benches  heard  the  elo- 
quence of  bright  speeches  that  filled  the  days.  The  record  of 
the  Railroad  ticket  agent  showed  twenty-six  arrivals  during 
that  week — most  of  whom  were  the  women  in  that  program. 
The  same  readiness  for  service  had  showed  itself  in  recent 
years,  when  County  Presidents  and  State  Superintendents 
cheerfully  undertook  platform  work  whenever  occasion  called 
for  it.  Eastern  speakers  often  lent  their  aid. 

The  fact  that  the  Republican  party  had  adopted  a plank  in 
its  platform  declaring  for  a uniform  liquor  license — a measure 
upon  which  the  liquor  dealers  had  been  more  than  two  years  at 
work,  with  intent  to  destroy  the  local  option  law,  stimulated 
the  friends  of  that  law  to  vigorously  defend  it,  and  every 
means  was  taken  to  enlighten  the  public  in  regard  to  the  na- 
ture of  the  proposed  legislation.  The  Liquor  Dealers — or  the 
“California  Protective  Association”  perfected  the  organization 
and  prepared  for  war  to  the  knife. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


Uniform  License  Bill.  Sanitary  District  Law.  Suffrage 
Campaign.  Death  of  Francis  E.  Willard. 

Gen.  Bidwell  and  Mrs.  Skelton. 

1895. 

This  year  opened  with  intense  interest  in  legislation.  The 
President,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  went  as  usual  to  Sacramento, 
where  she  had  several  efficient  volunteer  aids.  Circular  letters 
and  the  following  protest  were  sent  to  all  Unions,  urging  ef- 
forts against  the  “Uniform  License  Bill.”  The  following  pro- 
test to  be  signed  and  sent  to  the  representatives  in  both  houses 
at  once.  The  time  is  short,  and  promptness  is  demanded : 

PROTEST. 

To  the  Senate  and  Assembly  of  California: 

We,  the  undersigned,  earnestly  protest  against  the  Uniform 
License  Bill  now  introduced  in  the  Legislature,  and  most  earnestly 
entreat  you,  as  our  representatives,  to  use  every  possible  means  to 
defeat  the  measure. 

The  principle  of  local  choice  is  imbedded  in  our  customs.  It  is 
just  that  people  be  free  to  choose  good  and  not  compelled  to  espouse 
evil.  Sutter  and  Lake  counties  and  fifty  towns  refuse  license  alto- 
gether, and  we  urge  their  right  to  do  so,  and  we  desire  that  that  right 
be  continued. 

Mass  meetings  were  held  all  over  the  State,  and,  as  far  as 
known,  every  one  was  called  by  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and  able 
speakers  everywhere  enlightened  the  people. 

The  liquor  men  were  equally  active,  and  claimed  when  the 
Legislature  convened,  to  have  representatives  in  the  lobby 
from  every  county  in  the  State,  from  Siskiyou  to  San  Diego.  It 
was  their  policy  to  hold  the  bill  back  until  too  late  for  its  foes 
to  make  a successful  fight  against  it.  This  plan  was  surmised 
by  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  who  saw  that  it  must  be  defeated  by 
strategy — if  at  all.  She  decided  to  take  the  initiative,  and 
storm  the  enemy’s  works.  She  telegraphed  to  Headquarters 
at  San  Francisco  to  have  circular  letters,  each  enclosing  this 
petition  sent  out  at  once  to  all  local  unions  and  pastors,  to  be 
read  and  signed  in  the  churches  the  next  Sunday  and  for- 
warded immediately  to  her : 


64 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


PETITION. 

To  the  Honorable  Legislature  of  the  State  of  California: 

The  undersigned,  having  learned  with  deep  solicitude  that  it  is 
proposed  to  ask  your  honorable  body  to  enact  a Uniform  Liquor 
License  Law,  whereby  our  present  Local  Option  right,  as  lodged  with 
Counties  and  Municipalities  would  be  repealed,  do  most  earnestly 
request  that  no  such  change  be  made;  but  instead  that  all  be  done  to 
strengthen  and  simplify  our  present  right  of  local  government  of  the 
liquor  traffic,  and  your  petitioners  shall  ever  so  pray. 

There  was  barely  time  to  reach  the  Unions  before  the  Sun- 
day services,  no  time  to  get  printing  done,  but  the  two  secre- 
taries worked  a mimeograph  against  time,  and  in  response  to 
that  telegram  (which  reached  them  at  one-thirty  P.  M.)  the 
evening  mail  carried  those  letters  over  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  State.  Promptly  the  petitions  went  on  to  the  President 
who  was  holding  other  petitions  in  reserve,  awaiting  the 
enemy’s  action.  On  Thursday  morning  nearly  every  member 
of  the  Senate  was  provided  with  petitions — some  with  many. 
Under  the  rules,  they  all  had  to  be  read,  and  they  were  read, — 
to  the  exclusion  of  other  business.  Nearly  every  Senator  rvas 
on  his  feet  at  once,  holding  petitions.  The  number  and  length 
of  those  documents  created  consternation ; the  rapidity  with 
which  they  rained  down  on  him  confused  the  recording  clerk. 
The  general  confusion  attracted  the  saloon  lobby  element, 
who  had  been  watching  with  deep  interest  the  movements  of 
their  opponents ; their  indignation  was  fierce.  Their  remarks 
were  not  in  praise  of  prohibition.  The  Uniform  License  bills 
then  in  committee  were  quietly  withdrawn. 

It  is  but  just  to  say  that  others  co-operated  in  achieving  this 
victory.  There  were  individual  friends,  good  men  and  true, 
doing  their  utmost.  A Roman  Catholic  priest  from  San 
Francisco  did  heroic  work  against  the  bill,  but  without  the 
thorough  organization  and  instantaneous  action  of  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  the  day  would  have  been  lost. 

Sanitary  District  Law. 

During  this  conflict,  silently  and  surely  another  bill  of  en- 
tirely different  purport  was  passing  through  both  houses,  and 
as  it  became  a law,  it  meant  much  to  the  friends  of  temper- 
ance. This  was  known  as  the  Sanitary  District  Bill.  When 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  DORCAS  W.  GRAY  MRS.  LILIAN  BIRMINGHAM  GRAY 

Butte 


MRS.  MARY  E.  THORNTON 
Butte 


MRS.  W.  W.  KILGORE 
Colusa 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  S.  G.  BEACH 


MRS.  ANNA  M,  ARXOT 

El  Dorado 


MRS.  IDA  TULLT  JONES 
Madera 


MRS.  L.  F.  KING 
Fresno 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  HULDA  HAZARD  TYLER 


MISS  CLARA  A.  BOYER 


REV.  MARY  J.  BORDEN 


Fresno 


MRS.  ANNA  MARDEN  DeYO 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  M.  L.  BROWN 


MRS.  ALICE  M.  PEEBLES 

Humboldt 


MRS.  E.  V.  SPENCER 
Lassen 


MRS.  H.  N.  S.  NEWTON 
Lake 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


65 


the  saloon-keepers,  their  attorneys  and  tools  in  and  out  of 
office  had  just  given  out  that  no  town,  or  county,  or  city 
could  regulate  the  traffic  except  by  high  license,  here  conies 
this  law  strengthening  Local  Option.  Any  city,  village  or 
town  or  portion  thereof  can  declare  itself  a Sanitary  District, 
and  by  a majority  vote  prohibit  the  sale  of  any  and  all  kinds 
of  intoxicants.  The  passage  of  the  bill  was  considered  a 
huge  joke  on  the  liquor  men. 

Mh  Henry  French  was  identified  with  this  measure,  proba- 
bly its  author,  and  merits  the  honor  of  a strategic  success  in  its 
passage. 

This  law  was  first^enacted  in  1891,  but  was  so  impaired  by 
amendments  that  it  had  not  heretofore  been  of  much  use.  It 
was  in  fact,  a bone  of  contention  all  its  life,  having  been 
amended  by  friends  or  foes,  no  less  than  ten  times,  but  when 
at  last  it  could  be  disposed  of  in  no  other  way,  the  courts  de- 
clared that  the  constitution  did  not  contemplate  the  authoriza- 
tion of  power  in  these  divisions. 

The  following  outline  of  the  law  is  from  “The  Pacific  En- 
sign” of  July  12,  1899.  The  law  served  its  purpose  while  the 
courts  permitted,  and  was  vastly  educational. 

This  law  provides  for  the  organization  of  local  governments 
quite  similar  to  the  town  meetings  of  New  England,  and  the 
township  governments  of  our  Eastern  and  Southern  States. 
And  it  gives  their  own  local  rulers,  called  a sanitary  board,  five 
in  number,  just  as  complete  control  over  saloons  and  all  other 
matters  requiring  police  attention  as  is  enjoyed  by  the  city 
council  of  Pasadena,  for  instance.  The  expense  of  inau- 
gurating and  sustaining  such  a local  government  is  small — 
not  one-fourth  as  much  as  it  is  for  a city  of  the  sixth  class. 
The  mountainous  character  of  California  and  the  numerous 
unsurveyed  old  Spanish  ranch  claims  made  it  impossible  to 
subdivide  the  State  into  civil  townships,  six  miles  square, 
as  is  the  case  of  all  the  prairie  States  of  the  Mississippi  valley  ; 
hence  the  Sanitary  District  Law  is  made  to  provide  local  self- 
government  for  villages  and  rural  districts  which  are  not 
populous  enough  to  undertake  a city  government  even  of  the 
minimum  class.  Our  Sanitary  District  Law  was  fully  sus- 
tained by  the  State  Supreme  Court  in  a test  case  taken  up  from 


66 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Alameda  county.  See  Woodward  vs.  Fruitvale  sanitary  dis- 
trict, 99  California,  554  to  563. 

An  Anti-Cigarette  bill  was  also  passed,  but  was  vetoed  by 
Gov.  Budd.  Another  attempt  was  made  to  raise  the  age  of 
Protection  for  girls  from  fourteen  to  eighteen  years ; the  bill 
passed  both  houses  and  was  vetoed  by  the  Governor.  This 
work  was  valiantly  led  by  Mrs.  M.  E.  Teats,  Supt.  of  Purity. 
Mrs.  Rose  French,  Supt.  of  Law  Enforcement,  did  most  effi- 
cient work  in  this  and  other  lines,  at  the  Legislature. 

Suffrage  Amendment. 

There  was  a lively  contest  in  the  Legislature  over  the  Suf- 
frage Bill,  resulting  in  substituting  a bill  to  submit  the  matter 
to  the  people  as  a Constitutional  Amendment, — thus  enabling 
members  to  dodge  their  responsibility  by  throwing  it  on  the 
voters.  The  substitute  was  passed  by  just  one  vote.  The 
submission  of  the  Amendment  was  not  until  the  general  elec- 
tion of  1896 — the  long  interval  giving  time  for  a grand  cam- 
paign. 

The  saloon  men  of  Sutter  County  made  a desperate,  but  vain 
effort  to  rescind  the  Prohibition  ordinance,  but  the  benefit  to 
the  county  under  that  law  was  so  apparent  that  self-interest 
settled  the  question,  and  the  ordinance  was  retained.  Mrs. 
Rose  French  did  splendid  work  this  year  in  her  department  of 
Law  Enforcement,  directing  efforts  in  many  counties.  Mrs. 

S.  C.  Sanford,  County  Supt.  of  Alameda,  and  Mrs.  French 
each  personally  prosecuted  and  brought  to  conviction  several 
cases  of  illegal  liquor  selling. 

1896. 

Suffrage  filled  the  air  and  the  hearts  of  the  women  this  year. 
Feeling  that  nothing  could  so  promote  this  movement  as 
bringing  to  this  State  the  fine  speakers  of  the  National  W.  C. 

T.  U.,  that  body  was  invited  to  hold  its  Annual  Convention 
in  California.  The  Suffrage  Societies  were  dismayed  at  this 
action,  and  begged  the  National  Union  to  call  off  its  Conven- 
tion, for  fear  of  antagonizing  the  liquor  powers.  Letters  were 
received  by  women  prominent  in  the  cause  of  Suffrage,  warn- 
ing them  to  keep  clear  of  “White  Ribboners,”  and  not  to  be 
compromised  by  the  Temperance  element,  but  the  ladies  to 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


67 


whom  these  appeals  were  sent  were  found  to  be  nearly  all 
official  members  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  However,  to  preserve 
harmony,  the  Convention  was  held  in  another  State,  and  Miss 
Willard  wrote  her  approval  to  the  president  of  the  State 
Union,  saying:  “A  demonstration  that  our  letting  alone  of 
that  department  does  not  help,  will  do  good  for  all  time.” 
And  so  it  proved;  for  after  fifteen  years,  when  another  cam- 
paign was  successfully  pushed — all  worked  together.  To 
prevent  discords,  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  officially  kept  in  the  back- 
ground, but  individually  all  its  members  helped  in  every  direc- 
tion, as  well  as  carrying  forward  activities  in  other  depart- 
ments, that  added  force  and  membership. 

Miss  Severance  gave  many  lectures  and  her  able  pen  was  al- 
ways busy.  Mrs.  E.  G.  Greene,  state  vice  president,  made  a 
lecture  tour  in  the  northern  counties,  and  Mrs.  E.  V.  Spencer, 
president  of  Lassen  County,  used  voice  and  pen,  press  and  post 
office,  to  the  utmost,  as  did  many  others. 

After  a splendid  campaign  110,335  votes  were  cast  for  suff- 
rage, and  137,099  against.  Defeated  by  2,700.  San  Francisco 
and  Oakland  gave  a majority  of  23,772  against  the  amend- 
ment, which  the  rural  counties  could  not  overcome. 

The  work  for  Law  Enforcement  in  San  Francisco,  under 
Mrs.  Rose  M.  French,  begun  mainly  to  secure  convictions 
in  cases  of  selling  liquor  to  minors,  and  later  including  tobacco 
sales  as  well,  led  to  the  discovery  of  most  revolting  crimes 
against  little  girls.  The  womanhood  of  the  city  was  aroused 
and  the  deepest  interest  was  felt  in  the  prosecution  of  these 
cases, — of  which  there  were  twenty-six.  One  man  was  sent- 
enced to  twenty  years  in  the  penitentiary,  another  fourteen, 
and  five  others  to  ten  years  each.  Others  were  awaiting  sent- 
ence in  the  County  Jail  when  this  report  was  made.  The 
moral  effect  of  this  effort  was  most  salutary. 

These  cases  of  outraged  girlhood,  and  the  inadequacy  of  the 
provision  for  the  care  of  the  victims,  so  appealed  to  Mrs. 
French  that  she  found  herself  taking  them  to  her  own  home, 
until  she  had  five  under  her  care.  The  knowledge  that  others 
were  in  the  same  peril,  and  provision  must  be  made  for  them, 
was  the  direct  impetus  for  the  organizing  of  the  “Girls’  Train- 
ing Home,” — another  of  the  useful  institutions  which  has 


68 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


proceeded  directly  from  the  work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. — now 
become  a successful  philanthropy,  with  a commodious  “Home” 
in  Alameda,  caring  for  about  fifty  girls. 

With  the  co-operation  of  the  Law  and  Order  League  an 
ordinance  had  been  obtained  closing  the  side  entrance  of  the 
saloons  in  San  Francisco.  Eighty  violators  of  this  law  were 
tried,  convicted,  and  paid  their  fines. 

Women  as  police  officers  had  not  been  dreamed  of  in  1896, 
but  Mrs.  French  so  demonstrated  her  ability  and  usefulness  in 
police  duties,  that  she  was  equipped  with  a policeman’s  star, 
as  a special  officer,  by  the  Chief  of  Police  of  the  City. 

The  natural  barrier  of  a mountain  range  effectually  cut  off 
San  Luis  Obispo  county  from  the  Southern  California  Union, 
making  it  less  accessible  to  the  south  than  the  remoter  north. 
This  inconvenience  being  very  detrimental  to  its  work,  it  was, 
by  mutual  agreement  of  both  State  organizations,  admitted  to 
the  California  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  the  northern  jurisdiction. 

1897 

For  the  third  time  the  Uniform  License  bill  was  brought 
forward,  clothed  this  time  in  the  garb  of  a constitutional 
amendment,  endorsed  by  the  Governor  and  Code  Commission. 
With  this  prestige  its  friends  hoped  to  carry  it,  but  found  their 
previous  victor  on  the  field,  alert  and  ready  for  action.  As 
before,  the  president  of  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  led  the  battle.  In  fact  the  Bill 
was  believed  to  have  been  utterly  killed  at  the  last  session, 
so  no  other  organization  was  represented  in  the  fight  against 
it.  Her  presence  saved  the  day,  and  the  defeat  was  accepted 
as  final.  The  bill  had  served  the  purpose  of  arousing  good 
men  to  united  action  . 

A great  effort  was  made  to  secure  a law  to  take  liquor  sell- 
ing out  of  grocery  stores,  and  the  strange  fact  developed  that 
with  petitions  carrying  2,000  signatures — 900  being  from  San 
Francisco — not  a San  Francisco  man  would  introduce  the  Bill. 
Someone  else  introduced  it,  but  the  bill  failed  to  pass,  and 
the  same  fate  befell  the  Sunday  Rest  Bill.  The  age  of  pro- 
tection for  girls  was  raised  to  sixteen  years,  after  ten  years  of 
persistent  labor. 

So  much  of  general  work  had  been  held  in  abeyance  the 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


69 


previous  year,  owing  to  the  Suffrage  campaign,  that  a de- 
pressing effect  followed  in  this  year.  An  outgrowth  of  the 
Temperance  and  Missionary  Congresses  held  at  San  Francisco 
during  the  Midwinter  Fair,  was  the  organization  of  Unions 
in  the  city  churches,  bearing  the  same  relation  to  the  churches 
as  the  Missionary  Society — a useful  part  of  its  machinery. 
By  1897  there  were  seven  of  these  Unions  in  the  Baptist,  Con- 
gregational, Christian,  Methodist  and  Presbyterian  denomina- 
tions. All  did  good  work  for  several  years. 

Anti-Saloon  League. 

A new  ally  appeared  at  this  time,  the  Anti-Saloon  League, 
already  organized  in  several  States  and  becoming  national  in 
its  scope.  Its  leaders  had  secured  the  endorsement  of  the 
various  evangelical  bodies,  through  their  State  conferences, 
and  now  called  on  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  as  an  unsectarian  and  non- 
partisan organization,  to  lend  their  aid.  This  appeal  met  a 
cordial  response,  and  invitations  were  sent  from  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  Headquarters  to  all  clergymen  in  and  around  San  Fran- 
cisco to  meet  at  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  to 
organize  the  Anti-S?loon  League  of  the  State.  The  men  re- 
sponded, and  the  League  came  into  being  equipped  for  serv- 
ice, and  in  April,  1898,  its  Superintendent,  Dr.  E.  S.  Chap- 
man, began  to  direct  its  work  from  their  Oakland  office. 

1898. 

The  Nineteenth  Annual  Convention,  commemorating  the 
25th  year  since  the  Temperance  Crusade,  met  in  Berkeley. 

Death  of  Francis  E.  Willard. 

The  death  of  Frances  E.  Willard  in  February  was  a griev- 
ous shock  to  the  whole  world  of  reform,  testing  the  cohesive- 
ness of  the  organization  she  had  built  up,  and  binding  its  every 
part  closer  to  the  rest.  The  telegraph  brought  the  sad  news, 
and,  by  the  difference  in  longitude,  the  flag  at  Headquarters 
hung  at  half-mast  two  hours  before  the  hour  reported  as  her 
last.  An  appropriate  memorial  service  was  held  by  the  State 
Union.  Miss  Jessie  Ackerman,  “ ’Round  the  World  Mission- 
ary” delivering  the  eulogy ; similar  memorials  were  held  by 
local  Unions  generally.  Miss  Ackerman’s  return  was  sig- 
nalized by  holding  a Missionary  Congress,  in  which  the  co- 


70 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


operation  of  all  Missionary  Societies  demonstrated  their  mu- 
tual objects  and  the  correlation  of  all  temperance  and  mis- 
sionary effort. 

Military  and  Naval  operations  in  the  Orient  were  bringing 
regiments  of  men  from  the  East,  on  their  way  to  the  Philip- 
pines; long  trains  of  cars  filled  with  young  men  in  uniforms, 
arrived  day  after  day,  weary  with  the  long  journey  from  the 
Atlantic  States.  At  the  Ferry  Depot  the  Red  Cross  Society 
served  them  with  coffee,  sandwiches,  fruit  and  a flower  for 
the  buttonhole  of  each  and  every  man,  wherewith  to  decorate 
himself  as  he  marched  through  the  streets  to  the  Presidio. 
The  faces  of  these  thousands  of  young  men— mother’s  boys — 
appealed  to  mother  hearts,  and  the  department  of  work  for 
Soldiers  and  Sailors  found  much  to  do  for  them. 

In  the  temporary  camps,  where  regiments  were  detained  and 
drilled,  there  was  much  need  of  the  tender  ministrations  of 
women,  and  generous  hospitality  was  the  rule.  There  were 
invitations  to  homes  and  churches,  attendance  of  the  sick, 
gospel  services  and  kindly  courtesies  freely  extended  to  all, 
during  the  many  months  while  the  troops  were  passing 
through  the  city.  Every  transport  carried  great  loads  of 
reading  matter  for  the  men  and  in  a thousand  ways  the  in- 
fluence of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  reached  many  who  had  never  before 
recognized  the  uplifting  influence  of  our  institutions,  and  its 
beneficent  effect  upon  them  was  apparent  to  all. 

The  Anti-Canteen  work  began  this  year.  The  National  AV. 
C.  T.  U.  Convention  was  held  at  Seattle,  and  was  the  first 
meeting  of  that  body  held  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  This  was, 
also,  the  first  opportunity  California  had  to  send  a full  delega- 
tion to  a National  Convention,  and  it  was  proud  to  bring 
in  five  hundred  new  members.  Six  other  States  followed  her 
example,  so,  of  course,  there  was  occasion  for  a Jubilee.  Mrs. 
Sturtevant-Peet,  by  the  choice  of  the  other  State  Presidents, 
presided  at  this  celebration,  and  the  eloquence  of  those  seven 
presidents  told  wonders  of  their  respective  states  and  the 
achievements  of  their  loyal  women,  all  adding  to  the  enthusi- 
asm of  a great  convention. 

1899. 

Legislation  takes  easy  precedence  every  alternate  year. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


71 


when  the  law-making  body  is  in  session,  and  is  each  year 
renewed  with  ever  increasing  vigor.  A bill  to  give  school 
suffrage  to  women  was  triumphantly  passed,  only  to  be  lost 
in  the  pocket  of  Gov.  Gage, — vetoed  without  a word  of  excuse. 
Another  important  bill  met  the  same  fate,  a bill  to  grant  to  all 
cities  of  the  .hfth  and  sixth  class  (72  of  them)  the  right  to  place 
on  their  ballots  the  words  "for  license  to  sell  intoxicating 
liquors”  or  against  the  same.  This  was  vetoed  when  it  was 
too  late  to  be  passed  over  the  veto ! A bill  to  raise  the  age 
of  protection  for  girls  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  years  passed 
both  houses  and — was  vetoed  by  Gov.  Gage. 

However,  this  was  not  labor  lost,  for  the  women  were  think- 
ing, and  setting  their  wits  to  work  ! No  less  than  fifteen  women 
served  as  public  speakers  during  this  year,  and  again  they 
brought  in  an  increase  of  500  members.  With  all  the  hind- 
rances of  the  law  (and  the  law-makers)  two  counties  and 
forty  towns  were  reported  “dry,”  generally  under  the  Sanitary 
District  Local  Option  law. 

Miller  Memorial  Building. 

A happy  incident  occurred  at  Stockton,  which,  while  entire- 
ly local  apparently,  had  influence  State  wide.  Mrs.  W.  P. 
Miller,  a deceased  member  of  the  local  Union,  had  bequeathed 
some  bank  stock  to  the  Union.  This  was  sold  and  the  money 
put  at  interest.  Then  Mr.  Miller  gave  the  Union  a well  lo- 
cated lot  to  be  used  for  a building  site,  and  by  his  will  left 
a sum  of  money  which  enabled  the  Union  to  erect  a substan- 
tial two  story  structure,  of  which  the  lower  floor  was  rented 
for  business  purposes  and  the  upper  floor  used  for  the  work  of 
the  Union.  It  gives  them  a fine  hall  for  public  meetings, 
smaller  parlors  for  lesser  gatherings,  a dining  room  and  all 
other  conveniences  and  accommodations  necessary.  It  is  ap- 
propriately named  the  “W.  C.  T.  U.  Miller  Memorial  Build- 
ing.” 

The  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Spencer,  having  organ- 
ized the  Stockton  Union  in  1887,  was  invited  to  lay  the  corner 
stone  on  January  2nd,  1889.  The  Chaplain  of  the  day.  Rev. 
R.  H.  Sink,  and  one  of  the  Directors,  Mrs.  Georgiana  Rey- 
nolds, had  been  associated  with  Mrs.  Spencer  in  temperance 
work  in  1874.  On  the  26th  of  May  the  building  was  dedi- 


72 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


cated  officially  by  the  State  President,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet, 
with  State,  County  and  Local  officers,  members  and  visitors  in 
attendance.  The  Memorial  Hall  has  ever  since  been  the  means 
of  centralizing  the  beneficent  work  for  which  it  stands,  radi- 
ating by  means  of  its  various  activities  an  influence  felt  far 
and  wide. 

Dr.  Mary  Bell  Mallory,  Supt.  of  Christian  Citizenship,  and 
a fine  exponent  of  its  principles,  passed  away  in  1899.  The 
secretary  writes : “In  this  twentieth  year  of  our  work,  this  is 
the  first  promotion  from  the  ranks  of  the  official  members,  re- 
corded. Considering  the  number  of  the  Executive  Board, 
more  than  sixty,  this  is  remarkable.  Surely  the  Good  Hand 
of  God  has  been  over  us.” 

1900. 

The  Twenty-first  Convention  Meeting  at  San  Jose  brought 
reports  of  activity  in  all  lines,  and  everywhere. 

Legislation  by  this  time  possessed  the  souls  of  the  women, 
and  successful  elections  under  the  Sanitary  District  Local 
Option  Law  stimulated  work  for  local  and  county  ordinances, 
while  the  matter  of  the  Army  Canteen  brought  home  the  feas- 
ibility of  reaching  Congress  by  petitions,  and  an  immense 
work  was  done  in  this  line  from  the  Anti-Canteen,  Anti-Polyg- 
amy, and  Hawaiian  petitions  to  Congress,  to  the  local  ordi- 
nances of  small  towns. 

Literature  in  enormous  quantities  was  provided  for  soldiers 
in  camp  on  land  or  in  ships  on  the  sea.  Several  libraries  were 
placed  on  transports  and  boxes  of  books  were  sent  to  Manila 
for  the  use  of  the  Unions  there.  The  study  of  Peace  and  Ar- 
bitration was  forced  upon  the  Unions  by  the  proximity  of  the 
evils  of  War. 

The  department  of  Narcotics  took  the  National  Prize  for 
the  most  and  best  work,  and  it  would  seem  that  all  other  de- 
partments ri-'-'aUed  its  zeal. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  new  century  the  work  of  the 
Union  reached  an  era  of  development,  when  all  of  its  various 
departments  were  steadily  carrying  forward,  each  in  its  own 
line,  a vast  educational  movement,  the  general  organization 
enabling  every  State  Superintendent  to  work  through  the 
county  Superintendents,  and  by  means  of  the  local  Unions 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


73 


reach  a very  large  constituency.  The  co-ordination  of  forty 
departments,  all  bringing  out  their  direct  relations  to  the  Tem- 
perance cause,  and  all  so  thoroughly  organized,  made  up  a 
tremendous  force,  reaching,  as  they  have  done  into  the  do- 
mestic life  of  the  people. 

The  insistent  pursuit  of  such  a course,  marking  time  by  the 
annual  County  Conventions,  mostly  in  the  spring  months, 
and  the  State  Convention  always  in  October,  presents  an  ag- 
gregate influence  that  has  been  second  to  none  in  its  effect 
upon  the  higher  life  of  the  State. 

The  early  years  of  the  Twentieth  Century  have  been  less 
conspicuous  for  striking  achievements,  but  rich  in  the  discip- 
line and  training  acquired. 

Congress  of  Reforms. 

The  Annual  Summer  School  at  Pacific  Grove  outgrew  its 
old  object  as  a School  of  Methods,  this  being  left  to  the  de- 
partment of  Institutes,  and  conducted  by  officially  appointed, 
well  equipped  leaders,  wherever  desired,  and  feasible,  under 
the  plans  and  supervision  of  the  State  Superintendent,  by  ar- 
rangement with  the  respective  County  Presidents.  The  Con- 
gress of  Reforms  served  as  a State  Institute,  with  ever  broad- 
ening scope,  to  which  the  representatives  of  many  reforms 
were  asked,  each  to  present  his  own.  It  was  a gathering  of 
brilliant  men  and  women,  freely  reasoning  together  on  the 
rising  questions  of  the  day.  A striking  feature  of  this  new 
departure  was,  that  every  specialist  was  gratified,  and  often 
surprised,  to  find  among  the  women  present  some  one  of  them 
to  rise  promptly  in  intelligent  discussion  of  his  subject, — a 
fine,  but  sometimes  unexpected  testimony  to  the  broad  scope 
of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  training. 

The  Congress  of  Reforms  reaches  beyond  any  attempt  here- 
tofore— striking  hands  with  all  correlated  reforms,  demon- 
strating to  those  outside  the  Unions  what  those  within  al- 
ready know,  that  many  of  these  interests  have  a direct  re- 
lation to  the  work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

The  Congress  of  Reforms,  and  its  name,  originated  in  the 
thought  of  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  her  idea  being  that  the  W. 
C.  T.  U.  was  now  in  a position  to  invite  to  its  platform  the 
representatives  of  any  genuine  reform,  proving  the  correlation 


74 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


of  all  reforms,  and  that  the  advance  of  any  is  helpful  to  all. 
The  Congress  is  not  a delegated  body  and  consequently  cannot 
adopt  resolutions  or  transact  business ; it  is  entirely  under  the 
auspices  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  whose  guests  its  speakers  are.  The 
regular  meeting  of  the  state  Executive  Committee  occurs 
during  the  Congress  but  does  not  impinge  on  its  sessions. 

This  Congress  closed  with  the  first  Diamond  Medal  Contest 
in  California.  Beginning  with  silver  medals  it  had  taken  ten 
years  to  achieve  this.  The  moral  results  of  that  ten  years’ 
work  cannot  be  measured. 

Death  of  Gen.  Bidwell. 

A great  loss  was  sustained  when  Gen.  John  Bidwell  passed 
away  in  1900.  A pioneer  of  pioneers,  he  had  stood  boldly  for 
every  righteous  cause,  a conspicuous  figure  in  the  early  history 
of  the  State,  but  especially  dear  to  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  As  a 
champion  of  Temperance  his  attitude  was  a support,  his  words 
and  means  always  aided  where  help  was  needed,  and  the 
gracious  hospitality  of  the  Bidwell  mansion  made  it  a haven 
of  repose  to  weary  workers.  Gen.  Bidwell  had  been  the 
standard  bearer  of  prohibition,  having  once  been  a can- 
didate of  that  party  for  Governor  of  California,  and  later 
for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States. 

A few  months  later  Mrs.  Henrietta  Skelton,  whose  burning 
zeal,  unfailing  enthusiasm  and  tireless  energy,  had  been  felt 
throughout  the  whole  State,  also  passed  to  her  reward.  She 
was  an  organizer  who  saw  the  splendor  of  the  future,  and,  fol- 
lowing the  gleam,  asked  for  nothing  less  than  absolute  pro- 
hibition, and  freely  spent  her  life  for  it,  nothing  doubting  and 
never  daunted, — realizing  that  every  effort  made  was  bringing 
it  nearer. 

As  a monument  to  her  memory,  the  operating  room  of  the 
Frances  Willard  Hospital,  Chicago,  was  provided  with  a glass 
operating  table  and  other  necessary  equipment. 

Her  interest  in  this  hospital  suggested  to  her  co-workers  the 
propriety  of  making  a gift  to  that  institution,  which  should  be 
a loving  tribute  to  her  memory,  while  serving  to  mitigate  the 
suffering  of  inmates.  On  the  door  of  the  room  is  a tablet  with 
this  inscription : “This  room  was  equipped  for  the  relief  of  the 
suffering,  by  the  California  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  .TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


75 


Union,  in  memory  of  Henneritte  Skelton,  June  First,  Nineteen 
hundred  and  two.” 

The  president,  Mrs.  Mary  Inglehart,  wrote : “It  is  the  most 
valuable  gift  the  hospital  has  ever  received.” 

Her  native  German  name  is  here  employed,  though  its  angli- 
cized form  “Henrietta’  had  long  been  in  use,  as  endearing 
names  are  in  a family  circle. 

1901. 

This  year’s  summer  meeting  was  a “Moral,  Social  and  Econ- 
omic Conference” — having  for  topics : “Christianity  and 
Socialism,”  “Race  Improvement,”  “Co-operation  of  Men  and 
Women,”  “Public  Ownership,”  “Trusts  and  Public  Welfare,” 
“Labor  Unions,”  “Evolution  of  Industrial  Life,”  “Municipal 
Housekeeping,”  “Direct  Legislation”  and  “Co-operative  Liv- 
ing”— all  set  forth  by  experts,  and  the  relation  of  all  to  the 
temperance  movement  freely  discussed,  besides  several  ad- 
dresses, directly  on  the  various  phases  of  temperance  effort. 

The  Twenty-second  Convention  in  this  year  was  the  first 
ever  entertained  by  a local  Union  in  its  own  house.  This  was 
held  in  the  Miller  Memorial  Hall,  Stockton, — an  enthusiastic 
meeting  following  a year  full  of  activity  in  all  lines  so  general 
that  it  would  be  invidious  to  mention  any  departments.  Or- 
ganizing has  gone  on  apace. 

1902. 

The  Congress  of  1902  was  in  three  general  divisions.  Civic, 
Social  and  Domestic,  with  various  subdivisions,  all  planned  by 
the  skillful  hand  of  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  the  president.  The 
best  available  specialists  accepted  her  invitation  to  present 
their  views,  on  which  the  discussion  of  the  audience  was  in- 
vited. Able  and  distinguished  men  and  women,  representing 
advanced  thought  and  the  most  progressive  movements  have 
taken  part  in  the  annual  congresses,  and  up  to  this  writing  the 
fact  remains  that  the  highest  talent,  the  richest  experience, 
and  all  that  goes  to  make  men  and  women  acknowledged  as 
experts  in  their  various  specialties  may  always  be  expected  on 
the  programs  of  the  Congress  of  Reforms. 

The  Convention  at  Santa  Cruz  showed  thorough  work  and 
great  development  in  all  departments,  unusually  large  quan- 
tities of  literature  having  been  used. 


76 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


1903. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  following  two  years.  1903  was 
prolific  in  original  material  prepared  by  the  several  superin- 
tendents— the  State  having  issued  200,000  pages,  and  large 
quantities  of  cards  for  Flower  Mission,  and  other  purposes, 
besides  the  standard  literature  of  the  National  Union  and  other 
publishers.  The  Congress  this  year  had  for  its  general  sub- 
jects Religion  and  Education,  which  with  their  various  sub- 
divisions called  out  many  strong  and  able  addresses,  from 
“Religious  Toleration”  to  the  “Instruction  of  Defective 
Youth,”  with  music  of  a high  order,  which  is  especially  ar- 
ranged each  year  by  the  Supt.  of  Song,  Mrs.  Renowden-Bailey, 
herself  a fine  vocalist  and  proficient  conductor. 

The  annual  Convention  at  Vallejo  kept  step  to  the  onward 
march.  The  annual  dues  of  local  Unions  were  raised  from 
fifty  cents  to  one  dollar.  By  the  retirement  of  Mrs.  Spencer 
from  the  office  of  Corresponding  Secretary,  there  came  in  a 
young  woman  rarely  qualified  for  the  position.  Miss  Anna  E. 
Chase,  who  still  most  admirably  discharges  the  duties  of  that 
responsible  position. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Jubilee  Convention.  Congresses.  Earthquake,  Fire  and 
Desolation. 

1904. 

This,  the  Silver  Jubilee,  or  twenty-fifth  Annual  Convention 
met  at  Chico, — the  most  Northern  place  of  meeting.  To  meet 
at  Chico  was  a veritable  pilgrimage  to  a shrine  of  temperance 
— the  place  made  historic  by  the  most  famous  pioneer  and 
statesman  of  the  far  West,  Gen.  John  Bidwell,  and  sacred  by 
his  moral  heroism.  The  beautiful  home  and  grounds  were 
open  to  all,  and  every  delegate  was  an  invited  guest  at  a ban- 
quet at  the  mansion  where  Mrs.  Bidwell  was  the  gracious 
hostess.  It  was  an  ideal  spot  for  the  celebration  of  the  anni- 
versary, rich  with  its  associations — from  the  fields  from  which 
every  wine-grape  had  long  since  been  uprooted,  the  great 
Normal  School  of  the  State  on  whose  spacious  grounds  the 
finest  cherry  orchard  in  the  world  had  been  destroyed  to  make 
way  for  the  education  of  teachers  yet  to  be,  the  magnificent 
Forest  Reserve  with  the  young  timber  from  all  climes  grow- 
ing there, — all  gifts  from  Gen.  Bidwell  to  the  State,  to  the  still 
greater  gift  of  his  personal  character  and  influence. 

The  charming  personality  of  Mrs.  Bidwell,  the  living  expon- 
ent of  all  his  life  and  hers  had  stood  for,  gave  to  delegates  to 
whom  these  associations  were  new  an  added  appreciation  of 
this  place,  that  like  an  oasis  in  a moral  desert  had  been  noted 
for  its  high  ideals  in  actual  life.  In  this  place,  only,  in  all  the 
State,  had  the  native  Indians  been  undisturbed  in  their  home, 
and  the  White  Ribbon  on  Indian  women  gave  testimony  to 
the  prevalent  influence. 

The  Convention  glowed  with  enthusiasm  in  such  an  atmo- 
sphere. The  earlier  Unions  had  been  organized  on  a basis  of 
fifty  cents  for  annual  dues.  Mrs.  Churchill  had  recommended 
$1.00  dues  in  1885,  but  not  until  this  year  was  it  adopted  by 
local  Unions.  All  departments  evidenced  great  activity. 
Three  organizers,  Mrs.  King,  Mrs.  Washburn,  and  Mrs.  Ton- 
gier,  as  well  as  occasional  national  organizers  had  kept  up  the 
field  work. 


78 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Anti-Alcohol  Congress. 

The  Congress  of  1904  was  the  first  “Anti-Alcohol  Congress” 
held  in  America.  It  dealt  with  the  Moral,  Legal,  Governmental, 
Commercial,  Medical  and  Scientific  aspects  of  Alcohol.  The 
topic  did  not  largely  draw  men  into  its  discussion.  A College 
professor  and  a few  clergymen  only  appeared  in  the  program. 
The  political  phase  of  the  subject  was  not  brought  out,  yet  it 
undoubtedly  kept  men  away.  However,  no  other  phase  lacked 
most  thoughtful  presentation,  the  audiences  were  large,  and 
enjoyed  a week  of  important  educational  value. 

1905. 

The  special  topic  of  this  Congress  was  “Peace” — a happy 
coincidence  that  the  first  Peace  Congress  held  by  the  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union  anywhere  should  be  at  Pacific 
Grove.  The  names  of  many  distinguished  men  and  women 
appear  in  the  program.  Peace  and  Arbitration  filled  a week 
with  spelndid  addresses  and  papers. 

An  important  geographical  point  is  touched  in  the  fact  that 
the  State  Convention  at  Chico  was  the  most  northern  ever 
held.  In  compensation  to  those  Unions  that  on  account  of  dis- 
tance could  not  be  represented  there,  the  next  was  fixed  at 
Fresno,  the  most  southern;  but  it  will  be  noted  that  Fresno  is 
at  the  exact  center  of  California.  The  many  Unions  located 
far  beyond  either  of  these  cities,  demonstrates  the  difficulty  of 
making  both  ends  meet  in  Conventions,  and  the  difficulty  and 
expense  of  sending  field  workers  to  them,  and  the  consequent 
necessity  of  devising  means  to  keep  them  alive.  This  perplex- 
ing problem  continually  arises. 

After  having  been  domiciled  at  132  McAllister  street  for 
twenty  years,  a change  in  ownership  of  the  property  necessi- 
tated removal  of  Headquarters  to  a business  block  at  No.  22 
on  the  same  street,  but  soon  after  better  terms  for  rent  led  to 
another  removal  to  the  Emporium  Building  on  Market  street. 

There  was  a substantial  gain  in  membership  in  this  year, 
and  the  Jubilee  Night  at  Chico  was  memorable.  Each  County 
having  during  the  year  made  a net  increase  of  thirty-five  mem- 
bers had  special  honors ; its  president  represented  it  by  a sui- 
table speech,  and  its  members  by  singing  their  County  song, 
in  the  Jubilee  program  prepared  by  themselves. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


79 


The  Bi-County,  Colusa  and  Glenn,  San  Francisco,  Yolo, 
Solano,  Alameda,  San  Joaquin  and  the  tri-county,  Santa  Cruz, 
San  Benito  and  Monterey  shared  these  honors  at  Fresno. 

Institutes  took  their  place  in  1905  as  an  important  and  per- 
manent educational  factor  for  special  training  for  local  mem- 
bers. Plans  were  well  laid,  special  literature  prepared,  and 
practically  the  same  program  taken  up  simultaneously  by 
accredited  leaders  in  different  counties.  The  results  were  ex- 
cellent, the  Unions  were  strengthened  and  the  institutes,  by 
adhering  to  plans  made,  paid  their  own  expenses. 

The  meeting  of  the  National  Convention  in  Los  Angeles 
gave  the  opportunity  by  its  proximity,  to  have  a full  delega- 
tion in  attendance,  and  in  consequence  gave  renewed  stimulus 
to  the  year’s  work. 

1906. 

The  work  of  the  year  beginning  with  the  Convention  of  1905 
opened  auspiciously,  and  was  only  interrupted  by  the  awful 
calamity  of  which  the  president  told  graphically  in  her  next 
address — giving  the  best  record  of  the  effect  of  the  earthquake 
and  fire  at  San  Francisco  on  the  State  work  as  follows : 

“The  many  years  of  our  near  relationship  for  the  special  purpose 
of  battling  evil  with  good  and  magnifying  the  sacredness  of  human- 
ity’s greatest  need,  has  made  us  familiar  with  the  duties  and  pleasures 
that  come  to  us  all  in  such  meetings  as  the  present. 

“Much  has  come  to  pass  since  our  last  annual  convention,  associa- 
ting our  organization,  its  objects,  motives  and  methods  with  the 
greatest  national  question  of  the  period  and  made  us  a central  figure 
in  an  object  lesson  that  has  focalized  the  thought  of  the  civilized 
world  upon  one  single  branch  of  trade,  proving  a greater  loss  to 
humanity  than  quake,  fire,  flood,  and  famine  combined. 

“For  six  months  and  seventeen  days  of  our  fiscal  year,  we  had 
scarcely  paused  in  our  work,  or  for  a moment  taken  our  eyes  from 
the  goal  of  a sacred  ambition,  which  has  been  leading  us  through 
sunshine  and  storm,  for  nearly  a third  of  a century. 

“The  institutes  for  the  month  of  February  had  been  splendidly 
accomplished.  Plans  for  the  annual  congress  were  on.  A full  itinerary 
of  the  county  conventions  for  two  months  lay  upon  my  table  when 
that  awful  morning  of  April  18th  dawned  with  its  impending  doom. 
Shaken  as  by  a demon  of  unlimited  power,  the  inhabitants  of  scores 
of  towns  and  cities  were  awakened  and  terrified  by  the  rocking,  whirl- 
ing, falling  and  crashing  of  everything  above  and  around  them.  In 
thirty  seconds  three-quarters  of  a million  people  had  been  robbed  of 
the  bliss  of  unconscious  repose,  and  made  to  face  the  awful  realities 


80 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


of  the  greatest  calamity  of  a century.  Each  succeeding  moment 
added  to  the  sickening  certainty  of  doom  for  many  localities,  and 
lengthened  the  long  list  of  dead  and  dying. 

“In  forty-eight  hours  beautiful  San  Francisco,  the  queen  city  of 
the  Pacific,  was  in  ashes,  and  two  hundred  thousand  of  her  citizens 
homeless,  hungry,  and  helpless.  Almost  before  the  earth  had  ceased 
to  rock  and  tremble  the  Promethean  torch  had  lighted  a score  of 
fires  in  different  parts  of  the  city,  and  then  followed  the  awful  holo- 
caust, devastating  and  devouring  almost  every  conceivable  thing  of 
value  over  a stretch  of  seven  thousand  acres.  On  this  vast  area,  not 
a structure  or  living  thing  remained;  all  had  fled  or  were  wrapped  in 
the  gloom  of  a dark  and  silent  funeral  pile. 

“Desolation  reigned  supreme;  where  but  a short  time  before  had 
throbbed  the  heart  of  a great  city,  the  commercial  Tyre  of  the  Golden 
West. 

“Early  the  tragic  news  of  the  disaster  had  been  borne  upon  electric 
wings  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  people  from  far  and  near,  frantic 
with  grief  and  anxiety,  were  sending  messages  of  inquiry  for  friends 
and  relatives,  visiting  or  residing  in  the  fated  city.  Like  the  water 
mains,  the  avenues  of  communication  were  broken,  and  no  return 
messages  replied.  In  most  cases,  instead  of  hours,  it  was  days  of 
suspense  before  definite  news  could  be  obtained. 

“Not  dreaming  that  the  quake  could  result  in  such  terrible  disas- 
ter, Mrs.  Renowden-Bailey  and  I left  my  home  on  the  morning  of 
April  18th,  for  Tulare  County  Convention,  returning  to  Stockton  two 
days  later  to  receive  the  following  telegram  from  the  officers  of  the 
National;  ‘Profound  affection.  Sympathy  for  our  White  Ribboners 
and  all  who  are  in  distress.’ 

“Dazed  by  the  awful  certaintj^  of  our  misfortune,  I began  to  rea- 
lize the  loss  that  had  come  to  the  State,  and  the  measure  of  damage 
to  the  organization. 

“Letters  from  our  members  and  from  all  over  the  United  States 
dropped  upon  my  desk  as  autumn  leaves,  filled  with  earnest  inquirj^ 
after  ours  in  the  fated  city.  What  news  could  be  gathered  was  form- 
ulated by  myself  and  sent  to  all  the  prominent  newspapers  in  the 
State.  We  were  most  fortunate  in  having  our  inimitable  reporter  on 
the  ground,  so  near  the  center  of  the  most  tragic  and  awe-inspiring 
scene,  since  the  burning  of  Rome.  Her  able  and  graphic  description 
was  not  overdrawn,  but  truthful  and  comprehensive.  While  the  flames 
were  painting  the  lurid  picture  of  doom,  Mrs.  Spencer’s  rapid  pen 
was  tracing  its  awful  splendor  for  the  Union  Signal,  in  which  the 
report  was  published. 

“The  sad  experience  of  being  without  our  Ensign  in  such  an  awful 
time,  was  brought  home  in  stern  reality.  As  the  days  passed  we 
learned  that  none  of  our  White  Ribboners  had  lost  a life,  though 
some  had  lost  their  earthly  possessions.  The  merciless  flames  de- 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  A.  W.  NORTON 
Napa 


MRS.  MARY  NORWOOD  OSTRAN- 
DER 
Merced 


MRS.  L.  E.  EVERETT 


Nevada 


MRS.  JULIET  LUICEY 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  MARY  E.  JENKS 


Sacramento 


MISS  SABRA  A.  FIXCH 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  ALICE  STALKER 

Sacramento 


MRS.  ALICE  B.  HINMAN 


MRS.  JULIA  P.  CHURCHILL 
Siskiyou 


MRS.  IDA  FRANCES  LEE 
Sutter 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


DR.  MARY  BELL  MALLORY 

Placer 


MRS.  S.  E.  CALLEN 


MRS.  HARRIET  P.  AVATT 
Placer 


SIRS.  M.  A.  HAIL 
Plumas 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


81 


Touring  alike  the  modest  and  the  palatial  home,  had  taken  our  head- 
quarters with  every  picture,  banner,  book,  and  file,  which  embraced 
so  much  that  was  sacred  and  requisite  to  the  progress  of  the  work 
in  the  State. 

“Truly  we  were  in  a deep  shadow,  while  every  way  we  turned  for 
light  it  looked  dark  and  unassuring,  but  in  the  magnitude  of  our  dis- 
tress, in  common  with  the  whole,  it  was  manifest  that  sympathy  was 
moving  the  heart  of  the  world.  We  were  certainly  in  the  wake  of  the 
universal  solvent,  and  could  not  be  overlooked. 

“Among  the  first  letters  received  was  one  from  the  National  en- 
closing a check  for  one  hundred  dollars,  and  the  promise  of  more. 
Nothing  could  have  given  me  greater  surprise.  For  days  letters  con- 
tinued to  come  enclosing  checks.  Our  Treasurer  smiled  and  smiled, 
and  smiled  again  at  these  unexpected  showers  of  blessings,  and  wrote 
with  tear-blinded  eyes.  ‘How  thankful  I am  for  this  money,  what 
should  we  have  done  without  it?’ 

“Letters  came  from  Africa,  Australia,  England  and  Japan.  Re- 
membrances so  generous  and  prompt  in  such  a time  of  need  awakens 
a sentiment  of  deepest  appreciation  and  profoundest  gratitude. 

“Illinois  with  her  gifted  president  and  great  army  of  White  Rib- 
boners  promptly  remembered  us  with  a check  for  one  hundred  dol- 
lars. Dollars  looked  large  to  us  then,  for  they  represented  the  love 
which  is  the  soul’s  greatest  gift,  as  the  Union  Signal  expressed  in 
these  words,  ‘We  pour  out  to  you  our  soul’s  tenderest  offering,  that 
of  love,  the  only  thing  that  stands  when  He  shaketh  the  earth  out  of 
place  and  the  pillars  thereof  tremble,  the  only  thing  that  remains 
when  one  removeth  the  mountains  and  they  knoweth  it  not.’ 

“The  promptness  of  President  Stevens  should  strengthen  the 
cords  of  kinship  that  bind  us  to  the  National.  Her  measure  of  gen- 
erous love  in  the  response  should  be  the  measure  of  our  gifts  as  well 
as  the  cheerful  spirit  with  which  they  are  given.  Truly  bread  cast 
upon  the  waters  hath  returned  to  us  after  many  days.  The  lesson 
should  impress  on  every  one  the  duty  of  promptly  responding  to  all 
calls  from  the  National. 

“The  emergency  of  the  situation  in  San  Francisco  opened  the  door 
for  all  the  moral  and  charitable  work  that  could  well  be  supplied. 
Mrs.  Bainbridge  was  on  the  ground  to  meet  the  opportunity  and 
proved  equal  to  the  occasion.  The  refugee  camps  were  her  field  of 
personal  activity.  The  recognition  of  the  value  of  her  self-sacrificing 
labor  and  good  generalship  by  the  military  authorities,  supplied  tents 
for  every  branch  of  the  work.  A tent  for  a reading  room  and  the 
distribution  of  temperance  books  and  good  reading  matter.  More 
tents  were  furnished,  until  she  was  supervising  manager  of  a veri- 
table village  of  charitable  industry.  In  large  letters  W.  C.  T.  U.  stood 
out  in  bold  relief  over  the  entrance  to  all  tents.  Mrs.  Bainbridge 
wore  these  cabalistic  letters  on  her  cap,  with  as  much  grace  and  dig- 
nity as  the  military  officers  of  the  camps  wore  their  shoulder  straps 


82 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


and  epaulets.  Her  work  though  local  was  far  reaching.  With  this 
opportunity  of  a century,  and  with  this  one  woman  of  a thousand  to 
embrace  it,  the  potency  and  significance  of  our  organization  was  felt 
and  appreciated  by  the  military  and  a large  class  of  citizens  as  never 
before.  The  blessedness  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  was  realized  in  the  gen- 
erous supply  of  books,  clothing,  and  money,  from  nearly  every  State 
in  the  Union,  crowned  with  the  children’s  gift  of  a half-bushel  of 
pop-corn  from  Nebraska,  and  ten  dollars  from  the  L.  T.  L.  of  Maine. 

The  following  report  tells  of  the  gifts  and  work  of  the 
Flower  Mission  department  as  directed  by  the  Superintendent, 
Mrs.  E.  S.  Pringle,  and  sent  to  Mrs.  Bainbridge  at  the  park : 


The  following  is  the  report  of  this  work: 

Number  of  bouquets  distributed  2,165 

Number  of  text  cards 3,841 

Number  of  visits  to  sick,  poor,  etc 2,342 

Number  of  pledges  signed 13 

Number  of  garments 11,386 

Number  of  sun  bonnets 67 

Number  of  quilts  and  blankets 124 

Number  of  comfort  bags  (21  articles  in  each) 526 

Number  of  pens  and  pencils 767 

Number  of  packages  of  fruit 342 

Number  of  toys  to  children 986 

Number  of  corn  crisps 705 

Number  of  satchels - 9 

Number  of  ties  and  handkerchiefs 178 

Number  of  boxes  and  sacks  of  clothing 86 

Number  of  sacks  and  packages  of  provisions 22 

Number  of  boxes  of  fresh  fruit 22 

Number  of  pounds  of  dried  fruit 45 

Number  of  other  gifts 876 

Money  spent  $420.48 


23  dozen  eggs,  6 boxes  of  books,  6 bags  and  1 barrel  of  literature, 
7 boxes  of  dolls  and  toys,  10  pillows,  17  blankets  and  comforts,  bed- 
stead, mattress,  crib,  etc. 

The  Red  Cross  furnished  sewing  machines  and  hundreds 
of  yards  of  material  for  making  garments,  while  the  military 
furnished  the  tents.  Mrs.  Bainbridge  received  every  kindness 
and  courtesy  from  the  officers  in  command.  Recent  letters 
received  from  them  testify  to  the  high  esteem  in  which  she 
and  her  work  are  held. 

Supplies  were  also  sent  by  the  unions  to  Santa  Rosa,  where 
the  earthquake  was  equally  violent,  but  no  conflagration  fol- 
lowed. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


83 


“A  demonstration  of  immeasurable  value  is  another  object  lesson, 
the  immediate  result  of  the  disaster,  and  pointnig  to  the  ultimate  aim 
of  our  organization — the  closing  of  all  the  saloons  and  the  revoking 
of  every  license  for  eleven  weeks.  The  news  of  this  fact,  of  its  diminu- 
tion of  crime  and  suicide  went  around  the  world  and  can  never  be 
forgotten,  for  it  is  a death-dealing  weapon  to  every  argument  of  the 
traffic. 

“This  great  lesson  is  supplemented  by  another  in  the  enormous 
increase  of  crime  since  the  opening  of  so  many  saloons  on  July  5th. ’’ 

To  take  up  the  threads  of  state  work,  amid  the  confusion  of 
losses  and  general  paralysis  of  everything,  required  faith  and 
energy.  All  conditions  were  bewildering.  The  difficulty  of 
finding  people  was  not  only  in  the  bay  cities.  The  earthquake 
was  felt  in  other  localities  as  well,  and  the  consequent  up- 
heaval of  business  and  social  life  throughout  the  state  involved 
unnumbered  removals,  and  it  was  by  tedious  efforts  that  a 
meeting  of  the  Executive  Board  was  arranged.  The  president 
of  the  Oakland  union,  Mrs.  E.  Luella  Curtis,  kindly  enter- 
tained in  her  home  the  first  called  meeting  the  State  Executive 
Committee  had  ever  held,  on  May  15th,  but  four  weeks  after 
the  disaster.  Plans  had  been  made  at  the  previous  meeting 
to  put  a Financial  Secretary  in  the  field  to  raise  money  for 
general  work.  Mrs.  Mary  Fletcher  Norwood  was  appointed 
to  that  office.  In  the  demoralized  conditions  no  schedule  of 
dates  could  be  made ; the  county  presidents  opened  the  way, 
and  her  own  energy  and  tact  enabled  her  in  five  months  to  do 
excellent  work  in  eight  counties,  bringing  in  her  sheaves  of 
membership  and  revenue. 

Four  weeks  after  the  fire  the  work  all  over  the  State  was 
again  directed  by  the  officers  at  the  temporary  Headquarters, 
and  the  reports  of  the  year  told  of  no  slack  in  the  general 
work.  Department  work  was  especially  good. 

“Measured  by  numbers  perhaps  the  Convention  at  Watson- 
ville was  not  as  large  as  in  years  past,  but  measured  by  en- 
thusiasm, energy  and  White  Ribbon  grit  it  was  simply  im- 
mense.” 

The  Ensign. 

The  loss  of  the  weekly  organ,  “The  Pacific  Ensign,”  was 
very  serious.  It  had  served  its  purpose  for  fifteen  years,  mak- 
ing a more  intimate  relation  of  the  widely  varying  localities,  a 


84 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


closer  acquaintance  and  more  cordial  affection  for  the  leaders 
than  could  otherwise  have  been  possible.  The  circulation  was 
inadequate  to  its  support,  and  while  its  Board  of  Directors 
were  perplexing  themselves  about  the  means  to  carry  it  on, 
the  whole  matter  was  taken  off  their  hands  by  the  earthquake 
and  fire.  The  insurance  of  the  office  fixtures  saved  it  from 
debt. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  resume  a weekly  publication.  The 
State  Executive  Committee  assumed  the  conduct  of  the  paper 
until  the  next  Convention,  with  Mrs.  S.  A.  Huston,  editor, 
and  Mrs.  Emily  Hoppin,  assistant.  In  less  than  three  months 
“The  Pacific  Ensgin”  reappeared  as  a semi-monthly,  four 
pages,  and  letter  sheet  size. 

The  Convention  in  October  decided  to  issue  a monthly,  to 
be  called  “The  White  Ribbon  Ensign,”  editor  and  manager, 
Mrs.  Emily  Hoppin.  The  subscription  price  was  to  be  twenty- 
five  cents.  A Health  Congress  was  planned  for  this  summer, 
but  had  to  be  omitted  in  consequence  of  the  disturbance  by 
earthquake  and  fire. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


1907. 

Election  of  Mrs.  Sara  J.  Dorr.  Legislation.  Tragic  Death  of 
Miss  Kennedy. 

This  Convention  was  brilliant,  enthusiastic  and  picturesque. 
It  was  the  fourth  held  in  Petaluma,  the  birth  place  of  the  State 
Union.  Its  program,  prepared  by  the  president,  Mrs.  Sturte- 
vant-Peet,  was  striking  in  its  presentation  of  the  history  of 
the  state  work,  so  much  of  which  transpired  during  the  seven- 
teen years  of  her  presidency.  The  contrasts  of  small  begin- 
nings with  the  progress  and  achievements  of  the  present, 
were  brought  out  effectively  by  well  arranged  tableaux  and 
original  platform  exercises,  illustrative  of  various  periods, 
and  in  its  impressive  demonstration,  made  a fitting  climax 
to  an  administration  which  had  kept  well  in  advance  of  public 
thought,  faithful  to  its  standards,  fertile  in  resources,  and 
rich  in  results. 

Tenderly  endeared  to  the  whole  membership,  who  year  after 
year  expressed  their  esteem  by  re-electing  her,  Mrs.  Sturte- 
vant-Peet  claimed  her  right  to  retire  from  a position  to  which 
her  keen  perception  of  cause  and  effect,  her  comprehensive 
plans,  her  serene  steadfastness,  and  gracious  personality  had 
contributed  so  much  of  power  and  influence  to  the  State 
work.  Mrs.  Emily  Hoppin  was  another  officer  whose  effi- 
ciency had  held  her  in  the  place  of  treasurer  eighteen  years, 
who  also  retired  at  this  time. 

Mrs.  Sara  J.  Dorr  was  elected  president,  and  Mrs.  Iowa  M. 
Holston  treasurer. 

Mrs.  Dorr  brought  to  her  new  duties  the  rich  experience 
acquired  in  the  presidency  successively  of  three  large  and 
important  county  unions;  having  served  the  Tri-county  union, 
Santa  Cruz,  Monterey  and  San  Benito,  four  years,  and  San 
Joaquin  and  Santa  Clara  each  two  years. 

Mrs.  Holston,  the  new  treasurer,  had  also  been  president  of 
the  Tri-county  union  five  years,  and  has  since  filled  the  unex- 
pired term  of  Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman,  who  resigned  the  presi- 
dency of  Santa  Clara  County  in  1912. 


86 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


There  was  a falling  off  in  membership  in  consequence  of  the 
disaster  of  the  previous  year,  the  changes  and  removals  inci- 
dent to  which  affected  the  whole  State,  yet  the  work  moved 
on  vigorously.  There  was  much  local  campaigning,  and  the 
record  of  the  year  was  fifty  dry  towns. 

The  decision  of  Judge  Artman,  of  Indiana,  “that  the  liquor 
business  can  have  no  legal  standing  since  it  is  dangerous  to 
public  morals  and  public  safety”  was  an  inspiration  to  all, 
though  well  understood  that  the  decision  must  make  its  slow 
passage  through  higher  courts  to  be  effective. 

Institutes  stimulated  department  work — renewing  activity 
in  many  lines. 

The  department  for  Soldiers  and  Sailors  found  plenty  to  do 
with  the  large  number  of  men  in  the  military  camps.  It  was 
felt  that  the  removal  of  the  canteen  demands  something  better 
in  its  place.  A fund  of  $300  was  raised  for  the  purchase  of  a 
library  for  the  Presidio  at  Monterey,  which  was  formally  pre- 
sented by  the  State  officers.  Great  boxes  of  books  and  maga- 
zines were  supplied  to  the  ships  of  the  navy  as  they  came  into 
the  port  of  San  Francisco.  In  Scientific  Temperance  Instruc- 
tion, prize  essays  in  schools  were  undertaken,  and  have  since 
become  an  established  feature ; the  first  State  prize  being  pre- 
sented to  Miss  Olive  Deyo,  of  Fresno,  at  the  Convention  at 
Petaluma. 

1908. 

Prohibition. 

The  sewenty-seven  days  of  actual  prohibition  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, after  the  fire,  had  been  an  object  lesson  not  to  be  lost. 
There  had  been  no  question  as  to  its  expediency, — it  was  the 
logic  of  necessity.  Nothing  less  could  have  maintained  the 
superb  order  that  prevailed  in  the  chaotic  city.  The  proclama- 
tion had  been  made  and  enforced  by  men  with  no  previous 
predilection  for  prohibition.  When  the  saloons  reopened  the 
moral  effect  was  conspicuous  in  the  increase  of  crime.  An 
ordinance  was  soon  passed  forbidding  bars  in  grocery  stores, 
and  there  was  a growing  hope  of  better  things  to  be.  Early  in 
1908,  when  a vicious  liquor  ordinance  had  been  passed  by  the 
notoriously  infamous  Board  of  Supervisors,  the  people  rose  in 
alarm,  and  by  their  insistant  demands  induced  the  Mayor  to 
veto  it.  Miss  Chase  reported  at  that  meeting  hearing  one 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


87 


liquor  dealer  say  to  another,  “this  is  the  beginning  of  the 
battle  between  the  ‘wet’  and  the  ‘dry,’  and  no  one  knows 
where  it  will  end.”  She  could  have  told  him  how,  but  not 
when. 

The  Congress  at  Pacific  Grove  this  year  took  the  form  of  an 
Educational  Assembly. 

The  Annual  Convention  at  San  Jose  showed  a net  gain  of 
865  members.  The  increase  is  coincident  with  an  unusual 
amount  of  field  work  done  by  county  presidents,  institute 
leaders,  and  other  local  workers  whose  knowledge  of  their 
own  fields  had  a practical  value.  Noted  speakers  from  the 
east  this  year  were  Judge  Lindsay,  Judge  Artman,  and  Eugene 
Chafin. 

The  National  Convention  at  Denver  was  near  enough  to 
once  more  enable  California  to  help  her  own  work  by  having  a 
full  delegation  there.  The  Departments  of  Franchise,  Supt. 
Mrs.  P.  H.  Truax;  Unfermented  Wine,  Mrs.  S.  M.  M. 
Woodman;  School  Savings  Banks,  Miss  Sabra  A.  Finch;  and 
Institutes,  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer  were  all  awarded  special  honors 
in  the  National  reports  and  the  National  Prize  for  the  “Tem- 
perance Essay  in  High  Schools”  was  awarded  to  Eugene 
Foote  of  Hollister,  Calif.  All  shared  in  the  honors  of  Jubilee 
night,  and  introduced  the  rallying  cry : 

“California,  the  Golden  West,  California  forever  blest ; 

Raise  her  standard,- — raise  it  high ! 

California’s  going  Dry — Dry,  Dry,  Dry,  Dry, 

California’s  going  Dry !” 


1909. 

Legislation. 

Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  Supt.  of  Legislation,  recorded  this  as 
the  banner  year  of  her  department,  and  at  her  request  the 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss  Chase,  was  sent  to  Sacramento 
to  direct  the  interests  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  at  the  Legislature. 
The  president,  Mrs.  Dorr,  was  also  in  attendance  a great  part 
of  the  session.  The  “Age  of  Consent”  bill  was  again  introduced 
at  the  urgent  desire  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  Northern  California, 
and  the  “Marriage  Reform”  bill  under  the  auspices  of  South- 


88 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


ern  California,  W.  C.  T.  U.  The  president,  Mrs.  Hester  Grif- 
fith, was  there,  working  for  both.  These  were  the  only  bills 
for  which  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  stood  sponsor,  but  its  representa- 
tives combined  with  others  in  pushing  the  Local  Option,  Sun- 
day Rest,  Direct  Legislation,  Anti-Gambling  and  Woman 
Suffrage  bills,  and  others  of  minor  importance,  for  never  be- 
fore were  so  many  reform  measures  under  consideration.  The 
Anti-Polygamy  bill,  having  no  commercial  interest  to  retard 
it,  went  through  without  opposition.  The  Anti-Race  Track 
Gambling  Law  was  the  moral  triumph  of  the  session.  The 
agitation  of  the  others  only  brought  the  future  success  a step 
nearer. 

A “Four-Mile  Limit”  law  was  secured  which  forbids  saloons 
being  opened  within  a radius  of  four  miles  from  any  construc- 
tion camp  where  twenty-five  or  more  men  are  employed.  The 
“Mile  Limit”  around  the  State  University  was  extended  to 
one  mile  and  a half.  Not  the  least  important  legislation  of  the 
year  was  in  local  and  county  ordinances  throughout  the  State, 
all  having  an  upward  trend. 

The  Congress  of  Reforms  was  this  year  held  at  Berkeley, 
giving  Pacific  Grove  its  first  opportunity  to  entertain  the  state 
convention.  Several  important  topics  were  brought  out  at  this 
Congress  which  have  since  grown  upon  public  attention,  for 
instance,  the  White  Slave  Traffic  and  Sex  Hygiene;  resolu- 
tions were  passed  to  take  steps  to  secure  laws  providing  for 
definite  instruction  in  schools  on  the  latter,  by  special  lectures. 
The  discussion  of  “Economics,”  “Suffrage,”  and  “Direct  Leg- 
islation” by  leaders  of  thought,  proved  it  to  be  a real  “Con- 
gress of  Reforms,”  and  that  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  was  engaged  in 
all. 

Some  time  before  the  annual  State  Fair  the  state  officers 
sent  a protest  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Agricultural  Association, 
against  the  free  service  of  wine  at  the  approaching  Fair.  The 
protest  was  not  heeded,  but  over  against  the  richly  decorated 
booth  of  the  wine  makers,  where  it  was  constantly  given  away 
in  its  most  alluring  aspect,  were  the  White  Ribboners  with 
ice-water  and  literature  for  all. 

The  reports  of  the  year  showed  a gain  in  membership  of 

647. 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  ROSE  M.  FRENCH 


MISS  S.  M.  N.  CUMMINGS 


MRS.  AUGUSTA  C.  BAINBRIDGE 


MRS.  ALICE  E.  BRADLEY 


San  Francisco 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRP.  P.  H.  TRUAX 


MRS.  SUSAX  L.  LOCKE 


MRS.  LUDIE  REYNOLDS 


MRS.  NELLIE  GOODWIN 


San  Joaquin 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  ANGIE  VAN  BUSKIRK 


MRS.  EDITH  MOULTON 


San  Jo  aquin 


MRS.  SARAH  C.  HARRY  MRS.  MARY  M.  SMITH 

“United  in  Life  and  in  the  Great  Beyond’’ 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  EMELINE  CAMPBELL 


MRS.  C.  JI.  BALDWIN 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  D.  BIGGS 


MRS.  NINA  S.  SHEPPA 


Solano 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


89 


State  Paper  Problem. 

The  expanding  plans  of  the  Convention  brought  about  a 
Constitutional  Amendment  requiring  sixty-five  cents  from  the 
one  dollar  dues  of  members  of  local  Unions,  be  paid  to  the 
State  treasurer — twenty-five  cents  of  which  shall  pay  for  the 
State  paper.  This  had  been  presented  and  discussed  at  two 
previous  Conventions,  and  was  adopted  at  the  third.  It  has 
worked  well.  It  automatically  secured  the  payment  of  dollar 
dues,  and  brought  the  State  paper  to  every  member.  The 
weekly  issue  of  the  “Ensign”  did  a splendid  part  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  State  Union,  but  after  all  only  reached  one- 
fourth  of  the  membership.  The  publication  resumed  after  the 
fire  as  a monthly,  at  a subscription  price  small  enough  to  be 
too  often  overlooked,  has  never  had  a mailing  list  equal  to 
one-half  of  the  members.  The  State  paper  problem  was  solved 
by  this  amendment,  and  its  efficiency  as  a means  of  communi- 
cation with  the  whole  body  of  members  at  once  assured. 

A Heroic  Life  and  Death. 

The  whole  State  Union  experienced  a shock  in  the  tragical 
death  of  Miss  Isola  Kennedy,  president  of  the  bi-county  of 
Santa  Clara  and  San  Mateo.  She  was  a young  woman  of 
unusual  promise  and  much  beloved,  as  evidenced  by  the  office 
she  filled.  On  the  morning  of  July  5th,  she,  with  two  little 
boys  of  eight  and  ten  years,  drove  out  to  a canyon  a few  miles 
from  her  home,  for  a day’s  outing  in  the  woods.  This  is  one 
of  the  most  populous  counties,  from  which  wild  beasts  were 
believed  to  have  disappeared  years  before.  Soon  after  their 
lunch  Miss  Kennedy  was  horrified  to  see  a mountain  lion 
spring  upon  one  of  the  boys  as  he  was  wading  in  the  creek 
near  by.  The  child  was  thrown  under  the  water.  Seeing 
their  terrible  situation,  she  rushed  to  the  aid  of  the  helpless 
children,  telling  them  to  run  for  their  lives.  The  lion  turned 
on  her ; the  boys  could  give  her  no  aid,  but  ran  to  a camp  not 
far  off  to  give  the  alarm,  while  she,  prostrate  on  the  ground, 
fought  the  enraged  beast  with  a hat  pin — her  only  weapon. 
When  the  men  from  the  camp  arrived  she  was  still  conscious 
and  able  to  direct  them  where  to  stand  to  aim,  so  as  to  make 
sure  of  the  lion’s  instant  death.  The  claws  of  the  beast  were 
imbedded  so  deeply  in  her  body  that  his  death  struggle  would 


90 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


have  caused  her  death  also.  One  shot  in  the  head  was  in- 
stantly fatal.  Her  clothing  was  in  shreds,  one  ear  torn  off, 
and  her  left  hand  and  wrist  so  far  down  the  creature’s  throat 
that  his  jaws  had  to  be  pried  open  to  free  her.  She  lingered 
through  nine  weeks  of  terrible  suffering,  borne  with  wonder- 
ful cheerfulness ; the  little  boy  she  tried  to  save  passed  away 
before  her. 

A life  given  so  heroically  to  save  a child,  made  its  appeal  to 
other  children,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  Miss  Anna  A.  Gordon, 
the  World’s  Supt.  of  the  Loyal  Temperance  Legion,  the  chil- 
dren of  that  Branch  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  raised  a fund  by  which 
a monument  was  erected  to  the  memory  of  Miss  Kennedy,  in 
the  Mount  Hope  cemetery  at  Morgan  Hill  near  her  home. 

The  sympathy  of  friends  was  variously  expressed,  and 
among  members  of  the  union  took  the  form  of  contributions 
amounting  to  $380  toward  the  expenses  of  her  illness.  The 
greater  part  of  it  was  given  by  Santa  Clara  county  where  she 
was  best  known  and  fondly  loved. 

1910. 

The  annals  of  this  and  the  last  few  years  are  remarkable,  in 
their  evidence  of  steady  development  of  all  departments,  as  if 
all  were  being  brought  up  to  a uniform  proficiency  and  a thor- 
oughness of  organization  ready  for  great  movements.  What 
the  coming  movements  might  be  was  indicated  in  the  growing 
earnestness  of  Purity  and  Franchise,  and  departments  most 
related  to  these. 

The  Congress  of  Reforms  met  this  year  in  San  Francisco, 
when  all  these  subjects  were  forcibly  presented  by  strong  and 
able  men  and  women. 

The  Convention  at  Berkeley  followed,  emphasizing  the 
same  lines  and  their  relation  to  public  education.  The  air  was 
rife  with  a sense  of  preparation  for  advancement. 

Legislation  in  counties  and  towns  was  going  on  with  in- 
creased vigor,  and  elections  under  the  Precinct  Local  Option 
Law  were  making  dry  the  waste  places,  with  the  hope  of  mak- 
ing the  map  all  white. 

Scientific  Instruction. 

The  Department  of  Scientific  Temperance  Instruction  did 
splendid  work.  Its  superintendent,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Ayers,  and  the 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


91 


department  lecturer,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Bainbridge,  between  them 
addressed  ten  “Teachers’  Institutes”  and  the  latter  reached 
over  10,000  pupils  by  addresses  in  the  public  schools.  Nearly 
$500  was  given  in  prizes  for  essays  in  the  schools  by  state, 
county,  and  local  unions,  and  the  National  Intercollegiate 
Prize  of  $100  won  last  year  by  Mr.  A.  C.  Peterson,  an  under- 
graduate of  the  “College  of  the  Pacific,”  was  taken  this  year 
by  Mr.  J.  D.  Hauser  of  “Stanford  University.” 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Purity  Conference.  Red  Light  Bill.  Suffrage  Campaign. 

Victory. 

A notable  Purity  Conference  was  held  in  San  Francisco  late 
in  October.  Among  other  well  known  speakers,  Mr.  John  D. 
Hammond  of  Iowa,  told  of  the  “Red  Light”  Abatement  and 
Injunction  Law”  of  that  state.  The  Corresponding  Secretary, 
Miss  Anna  E.  Chase,  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Gilley,  and  Mrs.  A.  M. 
McCroskey  were  present  and  deeply  impressed  by  his  state- 
ments. At  the  close  of  his  address  they  had  an  earnest  inter- 
view with  him.  They  siezed  upon  the  idea  as  the  thing  to  be 
pushed  in  California.  Miss  Chase  and  Mrs.  McCroskey  went  to 
Piedmont  the  next  morning  to  lay  the  matter  at  once  before 
the  Legislative  Superintendent,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  who 
recognized  the  peculiar  merits  of  the  law  and  the  importance 
of  immediately  taking  up  the  matter.  Returning  to  the  city. 
Miss  Chase  again  interviewed  Mr.  Hammond  and  secured  his 
promise  to  come  and  help  if  he  should  be  needed.  She  then 
presented  the  subject  by  letter  to  the  President,  Mrs.  Dorr, 
who  being  at  her  home  in  San  Jose,  was  unable  to  attend  the 
Conference  or  see  Mr.  Hammond. 

Mrs.  Dorr  was  equally  impressed,  and  felt  it  to  be  an  imper- 
ative call  for  action.  She  realized  the  tremendous  task  before 
her,  but  with  faith  in  Divine  leading  and  W.  C.  T.  U.  follow- 
ing, she  began  to  lay  plans  to  obtain  the  law. 

Mr.  Joseph  Moffett  of  Southern  California  promised  to  pay, 
and  in  due  time,  paid  Mr.  Hammond’s  traveling  expenses  for 
the  round  trip  from  Iowa  to  secure  his  aid. 

1911. 

The  January  executive  meeting,  responded  cordially  to  Mrs. 
Dorr’s  presentation  of  plans,  and  the  Red  Light,  Local  Op- 
tion, and  Anti-cigarette  bills  w'ere  made  the  special  legislative 
objects.  Mrs.  Dorr  and  Miss  Chase  repaired  to  Sacramento, 
Mr.  Hammond  came  at  call,  lectured  in  many  cities  and  did 
excellent  work  at  the  capital. 

The  publication  of  large  amounts  of  literature  was  required, 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


93 


circular  letters  soliciting  funds  for  printing  were  sent  far  and 
wide,  with  a response  that  gave  but  little  more  than  $100  to 
open  the  campaign,  but  day  by  day  met  every  recurring  obli- 
gation, amounting  at  the  time  the  Legislature  adjourned  to 
$1000,  the  last  $200  of  which  was  donated  by  Mrs.  Annie  K. 
Bidwell.  These  were  days  of  both  faith  and  works,  nor  was 
the  element  of  sacrifice  lacking.  The  bill  being  before  the 
Legislature,  forced  attention,  and  fixed  public  interest  in  it,  so 
that  its  lessons  were  strikingly  effective  on  minds  to  which 
the  whole  subject  had  been  unthought  of  before.  The  bill  was 
introduced  by  Hon.  G.  W.  Wyllie  and  made  strong  friends  for 
itself  from  the  start,  otherwise  it  would  have  been  smothered 
in  the  Committee  of  Public  Morals.  At  one  time  that  fate  was 
so  imminent  that  it  was  saved  only  by  the  signal  from  Mrs. 
Dorr  that  brought  down  on  that  Committee  an  avalanche  of 
letters  that  secured  a hearing  for  the  bill. 

The  City  Prosecutor  from  Los  Angeles,  where  the  segrega- 
tion of  vice  had  been  abolished,  came  to  give  his  testimony  to 
the  value  of  that  course,  corroborated  by  a letter  from  the 
Chief  of  Police,  and  with  the  southern  city’s  experience,  and 
the  scientific  aspect  of  the  vice  question  presented  by  Dr. 
David  Starr  Jordan,  it  was  recommended  to  pass.  Interest  in 
the  bill  increased  and  so  did  the  devices  by  which  it  could  be 
held  back,  and  the  bill  was  simply  not  permitted  to  come  to 
vote.  However  it  was  felt  that  the  preliminary  work  neces- 
sary to  its  future  success  was  done.  Franklin  Hichborn  said 
of  this  bill,  “When  once  the  evils  aimed  at  in  this  measure  are 
understood,  it  cannot  be  defeated.”  That  is  the  ruling  thought 
in  all  the  efforts  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  else  its  ardor  might  cool, 
or  its  zeal  abate.  It  has  always  the  assurance  of  ultimate 
success. 

This  legislative  experience  served  as  the  beginning  of  an 
educational  campaign  preparatory  to  the  next  session. 

The  “Local  Option  Bill”  of  1909  had  a similar  fate,  and  was 
lost  by  tricks  of  parliamentary  practice,  but  this  year  its 
friends  stood  firmly  together,  and  succeeded  in  enacting  a 
workable  law,  by  which  numerous  dry  victories  have  been 
achieved.  The  law  makes  its  unit  a supervisorial  district; 
while  the  best  the  state  has  had,  still  better  is  desired,  and  at 
this  writing  (1913)  a movement  to  amend  by  making  a county 


94 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


unit  has  begun.  Our  women  lent  their  aid  to  various  other 
measures,  notably  the  “Eight  Hour  Law”  for  women,  the  law 
providing  for  Jail  Matrons  where  there  are  women  prisoners, 
a Child  Labor  law,  and  Direct  Legislation.  All  were  enacted. 

By  the  special  efforts  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  an  appropriation  of 
$4000  was  secured  to  enable  the  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction, Prof.  Edward  Hyatt,  to  send  a series  of  Quarterly 
“Bulletins  on  Health  Conservation,”  treating  on  the  effect  of 
alcohol  and  tobacco,  to  every  public  school  teacher  in  the 
state. 

Suffrage. 

At  the  opening  of  the  session  the  “State  Suffrage  Associa- 
tion” sent  a strong  delegation  to  Sacramento,  establishing 
headquarters  at  a leading  hotel,  and  began  an  active  cam- 
paign. The  Republican  Party  had  pledged  itself  at  its  last 
state  convention,  to  submit  a Constitutional  Amendment  for 
Equal  Suffrage,  and  saw  now  that  its  pledge  must  be  kept. 
There  was  no  object  in  dodging  it.  The  contemptuous  treat- 
ment of  the  last  session  was  forgotten  and  before  this  was  half 
gone,  the  bill  had  passed  the  Senate  by  a vote  of  thirty-three 
for,  to  five  against,  and  the  Assembly  by  sixty-six  to  twelve. 

The  Suffrage  women  retired  victorious  from  the  field  to 
make  ready  for  the  stirring  campaign  to  follow. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  had  worked  in  perfect  harmony,  co-operat- 
ing with  them  but  having  other  interests,  remained  at  the 
capital  until  the  close  of  the  session. 

Plans*for  the  campaign  took  shape  rapidly.  The  experience 
of  1896  was  immensely  valuable.  It  was  fully  recognized  now, 
that  all  evil  forces  would  be  allied  to  oppose  “Votes  for  Wom- 
en”; personal  views,  social  distinctions,  and  religious  affilia- 
tions were  alike  ignored,  and  the  great  issue  revealed  itself  as 
a line  of  battle  upon  either  side  of  which  were  aligned  its 
friends  or  foes.  “There  was  good  fighting  all  along  the  line.” 
There  was  good  generalship,  too. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lowe  Watson  had  come  to  the  presidency 
of  the  California  Equal  Suffrage  Association  in  time  to  lead  on 
to  victory,  a woman  of  rare  gifts,  and  rich  experience,  a born 
orator,  a preacher  who  had  for  many  years  ministered  to  a 
large  congregation  in  San  Francisco,  a writer,  organizer. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


95 


leader,  and  speaker,  the  power  of  whose  rich  voice  and  ideal- 
ism of  whose  thought  lifted  her  audience  to  the  plane  of  her 
own  altruistic  vision.  She  was  a White-Ribboner,  though 
more  widely  known  in  other  conspicuous  activities  of  her  busy 
life. 

The  Suffrage  Association  established  headquarters  in  the 
Pacific  Building  in  the  heart  of  the  business  life  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  it  became  at  once  a busy  hive  of  well  systematized 
industry.  The  W.  C.  T.  U.  Headquarters  was  equally  so,  all 
working  in  co-operation  and  unison.  It  was  agreed  to  leave 
to  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  the  special  work  of  enlisting  churches  and 
all  distinctively  religious  and  philanthropic  bodies.  With  an 
admirable  sense  of  fitness,  the  individual  woman  everywhere 
adapted  herself  to  the  task  nearest  to  her  hand.  The  thorough 
organization  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  was  a great  factor;  a local 
union  anywhere  was  a center  of  activity.  Had  not  Sarah  M. 
Severance  had  them  in  training  for  twenty-five  years?  Her 
voice  or  pen  had  never  rested.  Her  weekly  page  in  the  “En- 
sign” had  been  an  effective  educator,  and  her  supply  of  litera- 
ture going  from  her  home  as  well  as  from  headquarters  had 
been  a flowing  fountain.  To  her  unremitting,  persistent 
WORK  as  well  as  to  her  irresistible  logic,  eloquent  speech,  and 
absolute  devotion,  the  whole  state  is  indebted  today.  She  had 
been  hard  at  it  for  many  years  before,  but  recognizing  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  as  the  means  by  which  women  would  be  made  to 
desire  the  ballot,  because  of  a specific  object  to  be  achieved  by 
it,  she  became  its  Superintendent  of  Franchise  in  1886.  Though 
withdrawn  by  ill  health  for  a time,  long  enough  for  responsibi- 
lities to  be  taken  by  others,  returning  strength  enabled  her  to 
aid  in  the  campaign  in  Santa  Clara  County,  speak  to  many  au- 
diences, participate  in  the  Victory,  and  see  the  fruit  of  her  life- 
long labor. 

Mrs.  Alice  Park  had  for  some  years  been  chairman  of  litera- 
ture for  the  Suffrage  Association,  following  largely  the  plans 
Miss  Severance  had  used  so  well,  both  having  brought  out 
original  publications  in  regard  to  “Women  and  California 
Laws,”  and  both  incessantly  circulating  up-to-date  literature. 

Mrs.  Rose  M.  French,  an  ex-president  of  San  Francisco 
county,  W.  C.  T.  U.,  took  charge  of  this  most  important  work 
for  the  Suffrage  Association.  “Under  her  able  direction,  edit- 


96 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


ing,  and  supervising,  nearly  three  million  pages  of  printed 
matter  were  sent  out.”*  It  was  something  to  see  that  busy 
hive,  a committee  arranging  lecture  routes  in  the  inner  office, 
the  long  table  in  the  public  room  loaded  with  packages  await- 
ing the  express,  women  preparing  more,  every  corner  filled 
with  the  desks  of  other  busy  women,  and  yet  others  coming 
and  going,  while  reporters,  mail  carriers,  and  messenger  boys, 
each  with  an  errand,  added  to  the  picturesque  effect,  and  the 
sense  of  something  doing. 

It  is  believed  that  nearly  every  voter  in  the  state  was 
reached  with  suffrage  literature,  an  incredibly  stupendous 
task,  in  which  practically  all  organizations  of  women  united. 
Systematic  house  to  house  visitation  aided  greatly  in  the  pro- 
digious undertaking.  The  Great  Register  of  every  community 
was  studied  and  no  name  was  purposely  overlooked. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  Headquarters  presented  the  same  scene 
with  a difference.  It  was  as  distinctly  a mail  order  house, 
from  which  literature  was  constantly  pouring  out,  but  had  at 
the  same  time  the  numerous  and  divergent  interests  of  a great 
organization  to  keep  in  operation,  but  all  subservient  for  the 
time  to  this  dominating  issue.  It  would  be  impossible  to  seg- 
regate the  work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  in  this  campaign,  for  all 
wrought  together  with  an  eye  single  to  victory.  The  W.  C.  T. 
U.  had  had  years  of  training  for  such  a time  as  this,  and  the 
campaign  itself  was  training  other  thousands  for  civic  duties 
yet  to  come. 

Miss  Anna  Chase  was  in  constant  demand  as  a speaker  in 
all  the  bay  cities,  and  at  the  summer  executive,  the  president 
of  the  Suffrage  Association  formally  asked  for  her  services  in 
the  interior  of  the  state.  An  experienced  substitute  relieved 
her  of  duty  at  Headquarters,  and  she  gave  five  weeks  of  ardu- 
ous work,  speaking  from  automobiles  wherever  a crowd  gath- 
ered, from  Court  House  steps,  in  churches  or  halls,  or  from 
a soap-box.  It  became  a whirlwind  campaign.  Mrs.  Watson 
with  her  seventy  years  upon  her,  made  an  auto  trip  of  twenty- 
three  days  up  the  Sacramento  Valley,  speaking  every  day  to 
large  audiences.  Many  other  women  and  men  gave  freely  of 
their  time  and  talents.  The  high  moral  and  intellectual  stand- 


How  We  won  the  Vote  in  California.  By  Selina  Solomons. 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  R.  M.  HUTTON 


MRS.  GERTRUDE  L.  STONE 


MRS.  MARY  DICKSON  HOTLE 


MRS.  D.  S DICKSON 


Sonoma 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  S.  I\I.  AVyi^RIE 


MRS.  SARA  E.  AYRES 


MRS.  ADELINE  M.  GATES 


MRS.  H.  B.  LADD 


Santa  Clara 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MISS  ISOLA  KENNEDY 
Santa  Clara 


MRS.  HANNAH  BEAN 
First  Superintendent  Purity 


MRS.  EFFIE  D.  WHITMAN  MRS.  ELLA  A.  WHITMAN 

Santa  Clara  All  Prominent  Successively  in 

Three  Counties 

MRS.  N.  T.  SANDERS 
An  Honored  Veteran  and  Her 
Daughters 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  E.  C.  LAUGENOUR 


MRS.  S.  A.  HUSTOX 


MRS  ALICE  SCARLET 
Yolo 


MRS.  MARY  BOSWORTH  CLARK 
Secretary  Young  People's  Branch 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 


97 


ing  of  the  volunteer  speakers  was  a striking  element  of  success. 
It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  nothing  heretofore  had  ever  so 
unified  the  women  of  California,  or  developed  in  them  a sense 
of  civic  responsibility.  While  the  lines  of  demarcation  were 
sharply  drawn,  there  was  a marked  absence  of  acrimonious 
feeling,  and  even  the  men  opposing  the  principle  admired  the 
gallant  fight  the  women  were  making. 

Victory. 

The  portentous  tenth  day  of  October  brought  the  struggle 
to  its  glorious  climax.  Never  were  the  issues  of  battles  awaited 
with  more  intensity  of  interest.  News  from  centers  of  popula- 
tion came  first,  and  on  the  eleventh,  the  amendment  was  pre- 
sumably lost.  All  vainly  were  the  wise  words  of  Horace 
Greely  recalled.  “The  rural  districts  will  save  the  country.” 

The  state  convention  opened  at  Stockton  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  twelfth.  Delegates  from  all  sections  were  converging 
toward  Stockton,  ready  to  begin  the  next  campaign,  but  at 
successive  railroad  stations  later  telegrams  more  and  more, 
brought  cheering  news,  and  when  Stockton  was  reached  at 
noon,  only  a grand  doxology  could  give  due  expression  to  the 
glad  and  grateful  hearts  of  the  women,  and  the  natural  order 
of  procedure  appeared  to  call  for  a Hallelujah  Chorus. 

When  the  fast  growing  crowd  came  together  at  their  meet- 
ing place,  and  the  president’s  gavel  fell,  her  beaming  smile 
anticipated  her  salute:  “FELLOW  CITIZENS,”  and  every 
one  felt  the  new  dignity  that  had  fallen  upon  herself.  Tears  of 
joy  bedewed  the  eyes  of  veteran  toilers  who  had  not  dared  to 
hope  to  see  this  day,  and  to  all  there  came  the  hope  of  the  yet 
greater  joy,  when  the  desire  of  their  hearts  should  be  realized 
in  the  overthrow  of  the  liquor  traffic.  Just  a year  had  elapsed 
since  the  President  of  the  National  W.  C.  T.  U.,  Mrs.  Lillian 
M.  N.  Stevens,  had  made  her  Proclamation  of  National  Con- 
stitutional Prohibition  in  1920,  and  that  vision  was  now  re- 
vealed to  their  waiting  souls. 

“Full  many  a time  and  oft”  had  these  women  conferred  to- 
gether when  only  difficulties  and  possible  disaster  appeared  in 
their  way,  but  none  had  ever  interrupted  or  retarded  their 
advancing  steps ; nor  did  the  joy  of  triumph,  even,  divert  them 
from  the  plodding  routine  of  duty.  The  usual  evening  recep- 


98 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


tion  afforded  a safety  valve,  for  the  joy  and  gratitude  that  must 
find  expression,  and  next  morning  the  convention  was  called 
to  order  by  the  President  as  if  it  had  never  been  anything  less 
than  an  important  body  of  citizens.  The  opening  devotionals 
led  by  Mrs.  Mattie  Hamilton,  had  the  appropriate  topic, 
“Power  bestowed  by  God.” 

Mrs.  Dorr  presented  the  Honorary  President,  Mrs.  Sturte- 
vant-Peet,  who  moved  that  a telegram  be  sent  to  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Lowe  Watson,  President  of  the  Suffrage  Association,  to 
read,  “The  horse  and  his  rider  he  hath  thrown  into  the  sea.” 
Ex.  15.21.  A telegram  was  also  sent  to  the  pioneer  Suffragist, 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Severance.  A pretty  feature  was  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  convention  page,  Miss  Frances  Willard  Clarke,  on 
whose  infant  arm  Frances  Willard  had  tied  the  White  Ribbon 
with  the  wish  that  her  little  hand  might  some  day  cast  a ballot. 
The  First  Vice  President,  Mrs.  Reichenbach,  moved  a tele- 
gram be  sent  to  the  Colorado  convention  then  in  session  to 
read,  “Whom  the  Lord  hath  made  free,  are  free  indeed.” 

These  little  amenities  being  over,  business  proceeded.  The 
agitation  of  the  “Red  Light  Bill”  had  created  a demand  for 
more  light  on  the  subject,  and  the  scientific  addresses  bearing 
on  that  measure  were  notable.  The  educational  campaign  was 
steadily  waged  during  the  whole  year,  and  all  occasions  siezed 
to  bring  it  to  public  attention. 


CHAPTER  X. 


Transfer  of  Two  Counties  to  Southern  California.  Red  Light 
Campaign. 

The  inconvenient  bigness  of  California,  as  well  as  its  rugged 
topography  has  made  it  extremely  difficult  and  in  many  cases 
impossible,  to  reach  entire  communities  that  for  this  reason 
must  remain  in  their  relation  to  the  state  work  very  much  like 
foreign  missions.  For  instance,  Inyo  County,  lying  on  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  highest  range  of  the  Sierras,  has  until  very 
recently  been  accesible  to  the  western  slope,  only  by  a round- 
about approach  through  the  State  of  Nevada.  In  consequence 
it  was  not  until  1910  when  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer  as  a National 
Superintendent,  went  there  in  the  interest  of  “Work  Among 
Indians”  and  did  some  organizing,  that  an  accredited  W.  C. 
T.  U.  worker  ever  visited  the  county.  A railroad  has  since 
been  opened  connecting  that  county  with  Los  Angeles,  and 
the  best  interests  of  the  work  could  only  be  met  by  transfer- 
ring Inyo,  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Southern  California.  The 
same  conditions  in  another  part  of  the  State,  had  made  it  ex- 
pedient at  its  own  request,  to  take  over  San  Luis  Obispo 
county  from  Southern  California  in  1896.  The  construction 
of  the  coast  railroads  had  made  communication  with  the 
south  less  difficult,  and  by  mutual  consent  both  counties  were 
transferred  to  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  the  south. 

It  had  already  been  proposed  to  have  a written  history  of 
the  California  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and  the  president  had  appointed 
Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer,  Historian.  She  was  requested  by  this 
convention  to  prepare  and  bring  out  the  work,  to  be  financed 
by  the  state  union.  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Bradley, 
Mrs.  L.  P.  Williams,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Earish  and  the  Historian, 
were  made  the  History  Committee. 

A Grand  Diamond  Medal  Contest  was  held  at  which  Miss 
Zoe  Redden  won  the  medal  and  was  awarded  a diploma  for 
having  completed  the  entire  Contest  Course  by  medals  won 
in  the  State. 

The  banner  for  the  highest  percentage  of  increased  mem- 
bership, was  won  by  Siskiyou  county ; banners  for  the  depart- 


100 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


merits  of  Institutes,  and  for  Social  Meetings  by  Stanislaus ; 
Young  People’s  Branch,  Press,  and  Union-Signal,  by  Santa 
Clara;  the  Loyal  Temperance  Legion  banner  by  Pacific  Grove  ; 
and  the  Contest  Star  by  Selma. 

Fresno,  San  Francisco,  Stanislaus,  San  Joaquin,  Butte, 
Sacramento,  and  Solano  counties  each  gained  members  suffi- 
cient to  give  them  honors  on  the  Jubilee  program  with  a flight 
gain  for  the  whole  state. 


1912. 

The  convention  met  at  Sacramento  on  the  first  anniversary 
of  the  adoption  of  the  Suffrage  Amendment,  and  marked  a 
great  development  of  the  individual  women,  as  well  as  the 
work  they  were  doing.  There  was  plainly  a different  point  of 
view,  and  quite  another  atmosphere ; and  the  strange  condi- 
tion was  that  there  was  nothing  strange  about  it.  So  naturally 
had  the  duties  of  citizenship  been  assumed  by  women,  that 
there  seemed  to  be  nothing  new  in  the  situation,  every  act  had 
greater  importance  because  of  it.  Public  interests  were  more 
generally  discussed.  The  impending  elections  at  which  many 
constitutional  amendments  were  submitted,  were  debated 
with  a degree  of  intelligence  and  breadth  of  vision  highly 
creditable  to  the  new  voters. 

The  educational  campaign  for  the  Red  Light  Bill  had  been 
pushed  with  vigor  and  an  enormous  quantity  of  literature 
printed  and  gratituously  distributed.  Valuable  leaflets  were 
written  by  men  of  expert  knowledge,  on  “Purity”  by  Judge 
Murasky ; “The  Red  Plague,”  Dr.  David  Starr  Jordan ; “The 
Relation  of  Venereal  Diseases  to  Vice,”  Dr.  John  C.  Spencer, 
Professor  in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of 
California;  “Objections  Answered,”  Christopher  Ruess,  Ju- 
venile Court  Officer;  “Feasibility  and  Worthiness  of  the  Red 
Light  Bill,”  Rev.  O.  P.  Bell ; “Segregation  Policy  Abandoned,” 
Dr.  David  Starr  Jordan ; Clifford  G.  Roe,  Secretary  American 
Vigilance  Association;  Chester  Rowell,  Editor  Fresno  Repub- 
lican, and  Franklin  Hichborn,  Publicist;  “Testimony  from 
Iowa”  by  the  Mayor  of  Des  Moines.  Special  leaflets  by  C.  A. 
S.  Frost,  attorney;  Rev.  Dr.  Bovard,  Dr.  R.  Cadwalader,  As- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  101 


semblyman  L.  D.  Bohnett,  and  others.  Mass  meeting's  were 
addressed  by  these  and  other  able  speakers. 

While  this  matter  had  clear  right  of  way,  taking  easy  pre- 
cedence, routine  affairs  were  by  no  means  neglected,  the  gen- 
eral advance  was  unbroken.  Apropos  to  new  responsibilities, 
the  Supt.  of  Legislation,  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet,  early  in  the 
year  brought  out  a little  “Catechism  of  Civil  Government  in 
California,”  which  met  an  urgent  need  in  clubs,  and  other  or- 
ganizations of  women,  exhausting  three  editions  in  its  first 
year. 

Proportional  Representation. 

With  new  responsibilities  and  a great  desire  for  a “square 
deal,”  the  subject  of  Proportional  Representation  was  intro- 
duced in  this  convention,  and  the  Directors  of  the  Incorpora- 
tion of  the  California  W.  C.  T.  U.  elected  by  that  method  as  a 
practical  demonstration  of  the  system.  Its  justice  and  fair 
dealing  were  so  evident  that  it  was  voted  to  inaugurate  an 
educational  campaign  on  that  line. 

An  important  amendment  to  the  Constitution  was  made  as 
follows : 

“ARTICLE  V.  Section  3.  Provision  shall  be  made  by  every  local 
union,  for  representation  at  state  convention,  by  one  delegate,  pref- 
erably the  president.  Blanks  shall  be  prepared  on  which  said  dele- 
gate, shall  write  amount  of  railroad  or  steamer  fare,  for  coming  to 
convention,  with  one  third  added  for  return  (the  usual  convention 
rate)  and  her  name.  These  shall  be  taken  up  by  the  treasurer  and  an 
average  made  of  the  whole.  Those  whose  traveling  expense  shall  be 
less  than  the  average,  shall  pay  to  the  treasurer  enough  to  equal  the 
amount  of  the  average.  Those  whose  traveling  expense  shall  be 
more,  shall  receive  a rebate  reducing  it  to  the  amount  of  the  average 
sum.  This  plan  is  for  only  one  delegate,  and  does  not  change  the  num- 
ber of  delegates;  all  others  are  subject  to  the  usual  rate.  The  enter- 
taining union  or  unions  shall  be  exempt  from  this  apportionment.” 

The  National  Convention  meeting  so  near,  at  Portland, 
Oregon,  this  state  was  again  fully  represented  in  the  National 
counsels. 

The  Red  Light  campaign  only  halted  for  conventions,  and 
went  on  more  and  more  vigorously.  The  president  was  fully 
occcupied  in  placing  the  able  speakers  who  volunteered  their 
aid. 


102 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


1913. 

Women’s  Council. 

The  New  Year  opened  with  a sense  of  impending  conflict. 
Mrs.  Dorr  and  Miss  Chase  were  on  the  ground,  when  the 
Legislature  convened.  Other  organizations  of  women  were 
also  strongly  represented  and  a “Women’s  Legislative  Coun- 
cil” was  immediately  organized  with  Headquarters  where 
Conferences  could  be  held  as  occasion  required.  Social  Clubs 
and  Reform  Societies  alike  made  up  its  membership.  Every 
one  had  a special  measure  to  promote,  but  with  one  consent 
all  agreed  to  push  the  moral  interests  first ; material  consider- 
ations must  wait  on  the  moral,  and  with  this  definite  plan,  all 
worked  together  in  the  utmost  harmony. 

“The  Red  Light  Bill”  was  introduced  January  16th,  in  the 
Assembly  by  Hon.  L.  D.  Bohnett  and  in  the  Senate  by  Hon. 
E.  D.  Grant.  A hearing  was  granted  for  it  before  a Joint 
Committee  on  Public  Morals,  of  both  Houses,  not  like  that  of 
the  last  session  in  a small  room  which  easily  held  all  who 
cared  to  attend,  but  in  the  Senate  Chamber  before  a large  au- 
dience. Even  the  newspapers  gave  it  vastly  more  importance. 
“The  Examiner”  characterized  it  as  a “bill  with  teeth.”  In 
vain  its  opponents  endeavored  to  extract  the  teeth.  No  less 
than  seventeen  amendments  were  attempted,  but  every  one 
was  fought  to  a finish,  and  it  finally  passed  in  exactly  its  orig- 
inal form  ; but  not  without  a valiant  contest. 

Never  before  were  legislators  so  besieged  with  letters  and 
telegrams,  for  never  before  had  there  been  a constituency  of 
women.  Men  were  reminded  that  friends  and  foes  alike 
would  be  remembered  for  their  attitude  regarding  this  bill, 
and  men  once  opposed  to  it,  declared  themselves  compelled  by 
their  supporters  to  vote  for  it.  One  said,  “I  might  as  well  be 
killed  by  the  Royal  Arch  (the  Liquor  Dealers’  Association)  as 
by  the  women.  I’ll  stand  by  the  women.”  This  was  an  invin- 
cible argument. 

By  a new  law,  this  legislature  was  divided  by  a mid-session 
recess  of  a month,  giving  time  for  members  to  confer  with 
constituents.  It  was  a busy  month  for  all.  During  this  month, 
twenty-three  counties  were  reached  by  speakers  on  this  sub- 
ject. Senators  Grant,  Jones  and  Kehoe,  and  Assemblymen 
Bohnett  and  Nelson  did  platform  work  for  it  during  the  re- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  103 


cess.  Rev.  Mrs.  B.  C.  Washburn  and  Miss  Chase  were  in  the 
field  every  day.  Many  ministers  lent  their  aid,  besides  the 
speakers  who  had  for  months  been  doing  their  utmost.  Of 
these  special  remembrance  is  due  to  Franklin  Hichborn,  and 
Christopher  Ruess,  the  latter  a public  official  whose  duties 
were  exacting,  gave  every  Sunday,  within  distances  that  per- 
mitted him  to  reach  his  place  of  duty  on  Monday  morning, 
and  on  week-day  evenings  in  any  of  the  bay  cities.  Their  sac- 
rifice of  time  and  personal  convenience  was  a rich  gift  to  the 
cause.  Dr.  David  Starr  Jordan  gave  many  effective  addresses. 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  measure  ever  brought  before  a Cali- 
fornia legislature,  had  ever  been  so  well  ventilated.  Public 
sentiment  was  vastly  educated  by  these  means. 

The  bill  came  to  a vote  in  the  Assembly  March  20th,  and 
passed  by  a count  of  sixty-two  for,  to  seventeen  against ; in 
the  Senate  March  28th,  and  passed  by  a vote  of  twenty-nine 
to  eleven. 

It  was  approved  and  signed  by  Governor  Hiram  W.  John- 
son, April  seventh. 

The  pen  with  which  this  bill  was  signed,  was  presented  by 
Gov.  Johnson  to  Mrs.  Sara  J.  Dorr,  president  of  the  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  as  a public  acknowledgement  of 
its  maternity  of  the  “Red  Light  Injunction  and  Abatement 
Law.” 

The  law  is  to  take  effect  August  10th,  unless  suspended  by 
a petition  for  a Referendum  before  that  date. 

While  others  helped  freely  and  splendidly  in  this  achieve- 
ment, it  will  be  recollected  as  a triumph  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
organization.  It  had  so  many  outposts  of  faithful  workers,  on 
whose  hearts  it  was  a burden. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  raised  and  used  $3,500  for  this  purpose, 
printed  300,000  leaflets,  which  if  reduced  to  pages  would  ex- 
ceed a million,  paid  $300  for  postage  and  express,  $1000  for 
expenses  of  speakers,  and  many  other  incidental  expenses, 
fully  demonstrating  its  ability  to  deal  with  a difficult  proposi- 
tion. The  end  is  not  yet.  The  coming  contest  will  be  the  Ref- 
erendum or  appeal  to  the  people. 

The  Red  Light  Bill  was  the  grand  climax  of  legislative  ef- 
fort, but  many  bills,  any  one  of  which  would  have  been  at  any 


104 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


previous  session,  considered  worthy  of  all  praise,  were  adopted 
now  almost  as  a matter  of  course,  since  women  were  an  inte- 
gral influence  in  legislation. 

“The  Age  of  Consent”  for  which  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  began  to 
work  in  1887  would  have  passed  in  1911,  had  it  not  been  side- 
tracked to  give  something  else  the  right  of  way,  but  there  was 
no  setting  it  aside  in  1913.  A bill  for  “Equal  Guardianship  of 
Children,”  one  holding  the  fathers  of  illegitimate  offspring 
responsible  for  their  support,  an  appropriation  to  establish  a 
“Girls’  Training  Home,”  “Minimum  Wage  for  Women,”  “Ex- 
tension of  Eight  Hour  Law  to  Women,”  “Marriage  Examina- 
tion,” and  other  good  bills  became  laws. 

A meeting  of  representatives  of  “The  Federated  Clubs,” 
“Church  Federation,”  “Civic  League,”  “Mothers’  Congress,” 
“Anti-Saloon  League,”  “Sunday  School  Association,”  and  sev- 
eral other  societies  and  individuals  has  been  held  at  the  state 
Headquarters  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  at  which  plans  were  made 
and  an  organization  effected  by  which  all  these  and  many 
more  will  co-operate  in  the  campaign  in  support  of  the  Red 
Light  Law  under  the  referendum. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


YOUNG  PEOPLE’S  BRANCH. 

The  Young  People’s  Branch  of  today  was  prefigured  by  the 
earlier  societies  of  young  men  and  women.  Of  these  none  in 
this  state  reached  the  importance  of  “The  Temperance  Cadets” 
of  Oakland. 

Boys  under  fourteen  were  organized  as  “Junior  Cadets”  and 
met  afternoons.  Those  above  that  age,  made  up  the  larger  and 
stronger  society,  a splendid  body  of  youths  organized  and  sup- 
ported by  the  Oakland  union,  with  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Borland, 
Superintendent.  The  triple  pledge,  against  alcohol,  tobacco, 
and  profanity,  was  the  basic  principle.  Instruction  on  these 
lines  was  varied  by  military  drill,  given  by  a member  of  the 
National  Guard.  The  boys  met  weekly,  in  the  evening,  and 
entered  with  such  spirit  into  the  work,  that  they  not  only  in- 
creased rapidly,  but  better  yet,  held  on  steadily  for  ten  years. 
Strictly  military  forms  were  used  with  appropriate  uniforms, 
and  perfect  order  maintained.  Their  musical  ability  was 
brought  out  in  frequent  social  functions,  arranged  by  the 
union.  They  had  a Glee  Club  so  proficient  as  to  be  a social 
attraction,  sometimes  giving  concerts,  and  assisting  in  the 
School  of  Methods  at  Pacific  Grove  two  seasons,  when  camp- 
ing there. 

Companies  A,  B,  C,  and  D,  were  organized  in  Oakland,  East 
Oakland,  Berkeley  and  Alameda,  and  occasionally  held  com- 
petitive drills.  A regiment  was  made  up  of  these  and  some 
other  companies  in  other  localities,  but  on  account  of  distance 
from  each  other  could  not  work  to  advantage  as  such. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  to  Mrs.  Borland,  who 
with  unflagging  devotion  mothered  the  Cadets.  They  called 
her  “Mother  Carey,”  and  through  all  the  ten  years  she  threw 
herself  unreservedly  into  the  work.  One  of  the  Cadets  writing 
now,  tells  of  “her  tireless  energy,  ready  sympathy,  and  thor- 
ough understanding  of  that  complicated  machine,  a BOY,  all 
of  which  went  to  make  her  work  a success.  Without  excep- 
tion every  boy  who  belonged  to  one  of  these  companies  re- 


106 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


ceived  an  uplift  which  he  could  not  have  had  in  any  other 
organization  at  that  time.”  Another  writes,  “Of  all  the  boys 
I can  remember  who  belonged  to  our  company,  every  one  is  a 
temperance  man.  There  were  others  outside  our  ranks,  who 
lived  better  lives  because  of  their  association  with  the  Cadets. 
Mrs.  Borland  writes,  “No  matter  where  they  go  or  how  long 
gone,  when  they  return  they  never  fail  to  look  up  old  com- 
rades and  “Mother  Carey.”  The  work  did  not  seem  very  much 
in  doing,  but  who  shall  measure  results?” 

At  several  other  places  temporary  companies  were  formed. 
One  of  the  Oakland  Cadets  was  a student  whose  home  was 
in  New  Mexico.  On  his  return  he  organized  a company  there. 

Mrs.  Clare  O.  Southard  was  an  able  coadjutor  of  Mrs. 
Borland.  She  and  her  husband.  Dr.  W.  F.  Southard,  were 
members  of  the  first  Board  of  Directors  of  “The  Temperance 
Cadets.” 

Coincident  with  the  Cadets  were  the  “Young  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Unions.”  An  especially  fine  work  was 
done  in  Oakland  where  it  was  mothered  by  Mrs.  Southard. 
They  co-operated  with  the  Cadets,  being  naturally  comple- 
mentary to  them,  making  a strong  social  force  that  popularized 
the  principles  they  represented. 

These  unions  were  briefly  called  the  “Y’s.”  The  first  was 
organized  in  East  Oakland  in  1884.  In  1885  San  Francisco, 
Oakland,  Antioch,  and  Haywards  followed,  in  1886  Grass  Val- 
ley, Hollister,  lone,  Nevada  City,  Napa,  Petaluma,  San  Jose, 
Santa  Rosa,  Santa  Cruz,  and  Berkeley.  Twenty-eight  “Y’s” 
were  reported  in  1887  and  thirty-four  in  1888. 

An  organizer  was  one  night  asked  a question  by  a miner  in 
the  audience,  saying,  “A  man  under  ground  told  me  today  that 
there  is  a union  of  a hundred  girls  in  Grass  Valley  who  will 
have  nothing  to  do  with  a man  that  drinks.  Is  that  true?” 
She  proudly  verified  the  statement,  adding  “there  are  139,  all 
over  seventeen.”  The  man’s  response  came  with  strong  em- 
phasis ; “I  wish  they  would  do  that  here,”  a tribute  alike  to  the 
value  and  far  reaching  force  of  their  influence. 

The  climax  of  Young  Women’s  work  was  in  1888.  The  de- 
clining membership  was  not  so  much  due  to  loss  of  interest  as 
to  the  fact  that  the  Christian  Endeavor  societies  and  other 
young  people’s  societies,  then  first  organized  in  the  various 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  107 


churches  doing  the  same  work.  “Young  Woman’s  Work”  was 
a distinct  department  of  which  Mrs.  S.  G.  Chamberlain  was 
the  first  Superintendent  and  during  her  three  years’  term  its 
greatest  success  was  reached.  Conditions  made  progress  more 
difficult  for  those  who  followed,  Mrs.  H.  V.  Brownell,  Miss 
Winnie  Morris,  Mrs.  Jessie  B.  Nevins,  and  Mrs.  Emily  Webb 
Giesey. 

In  conformity  with  the  National  Woman’s  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  this  department  became  in  1900,  the  “Young 
People’s  Branch,”  having  membership  of  both  sexes  and 
broader  plans  of  work.  Miss  Mabel  Sabelman  was  the  first 
Secretary,  followed  after  a vacancy  of  a few  years  by  Mrs. 
Alice  Newton  in  1905.  In  1908  Miss  Foneta  Chase  assumed 
its  care  until  1910,  when  Mrs.  Mary  Bosworth  Clarke  took 
charge,  she  was  drawn  into  another  line,  and  was  followed 
by  Mrs.  Ethel  Estes  Stephenson,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  Loyal  Temperance  Legion. 

The  Juvenile  department  was  the  forerunner  of  the 
“Legion.”  It  was  reported  in  1885  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  W. 
Parish.  Plainly  it  was  a paramount  object,  and  everywhere 
the  unions  began  work  for  the  children,  but  each  seemed  to 
act  on  its  own  initiative,  for  as  yet  general  plans  had  not  de- 
veloped nor  had  there  been  adopted  a literature  for  children. 
Some  of  these  juvenile  societies  were  called  “Temperance 
Bands,”  “Bands  of  Hope,”  “Silver  Star  Cadets,”  “True  Blue 
Cadets,”  or  “Juvenile  Unions,”  but  all  did  good  work.  In  ad- 
dition to  these  there  appeared  in  the  next  year,  “The  Temper- 
ance Guards,”  and  “The  Stars  of  Hope.”  At  the  seventh  state 
convention,  the  “Juvenile  Union”  of  Grass  Valley  reported 
having  entered  on  its  ninth  year,  antedating  the  state  union 
by  two  years.  After  two  years  of  splendid  work,  Mrs.  Parish 
took  up  other  lines  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Ey- 
ster,  who  held  the  position  eleven  years.  During  this  long 
term  a better  organization  was  effected  under  the  uniform 
name  and  system  of  the  “Loyal  Temperance  Legion,”  with  a 
fine  course  of  instruction  prepared  by  the  National  Union 
supplemented  by  literature  brought  out  by  the  superintendent. 
The  course  of  study  included,  besides  the  primary  teaching,  a 
series  of  lessons  for  the  Senior  Loyal  Temperance  Legion.  In 


108 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


the  changes  incidental  to  the  development  of  the  “Young 
People’s  Branch,’’  the  Senior  Legion  -was  merged  into  that 
Branch,  leaving  the  L.  T.  L.  distinctly  juvenile.  Mrs.  Alice 
Hyde  was  the  next  superintendent.  In  1900  the  name  of  Mrs. 
Alice  Bowman  appears  as  Secretary,  indicating  that  the  Loyal 
Legion  had  also  become  a Branch  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  After 
four  years  of  excellent  service  she  retired,  and  this  important 
office  was  vacant  one  year,  when  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Gilley,  a wom- 
an who  must  have  been  foreordained  for  this  special  purpose, 
was  elected  and  is  still  ably  filling  the  position. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


THE  EVOLUTION  OF  DEPARTMENTS. 

Nothing  has  more  impressed  the  compiler  of  these  pages 
than  the  originality  of  ideas  and  methods  employed.  How- 
ever commonplace  they  may  now  appear,  they  were  all  new 
once,  and  every  step  taken  was  on  untried  ground.  The  work 
was  undertaken  from  a deep  sense  of  moral  obligation,  with- 
out regard  to  model  or  precedent.  Not  more  truly  were  the 
men  of  ’49  and  the  early  fifties  pioneers,  than  the  women  who 
two  decades  later  instituted  a movement  in  the  west,  than 
which  none  has  been  of  loftier  purpose  or  more  substantial 
character.  Granted  that  similar  proceedings  had  begun  in  the 
East ; the  east  and  west  were  far  apart  then,  and  the  women 
of  the  west  ventured  upon  the  unknown  when  they  met  to 
organize  the  Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union,  but  the 
vest  has  held  its  own,  and  strikes  hands  now  with  the  east 
and  the  world,  in  the  general  advance  of  the  age. 

An  eastern  writer  says,  “It  is  wholly  safe  to  claim  that  the 
Woman’s  Christian  Temperance  Union  has  been  the  wide- 
browed,  strong-handed,  sure-footed  pioneer  that  led  Ameri- 
ca’s, if  not  the  World’s  womanhood  to  the  unclaimed  but 
rightful  suffrages  that  lay  waiting  to  her  hand.”  Miss  Willard 
in  her  annual  address  of  1880  refers  to  the  local  unions  as  be- 
ing “fitted  incidentally  to  furnish  incitement  to  noble  enter- 
prises closely  related  to  our  work,  in  which  women  who  will 
not  as  yet  engage  in  our  direct  temperance  endeavor  would 
gladly  employ  their  steadily  arousing  energies,”  and  this  seems 
like  a prophecy  of  the  work  of  women’s  clubs,  that  has  fol- 
lowed so  closely  in  the  way  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  has  led,  that  it 
would  be  hard  to  find  a single  activity  of  club  life,  that  has  not 
first  been  exploited  in  these  departments. 

1'he  available  records  of  the  beginnings  are  meager,  but 
show  a sifting  each  year  of  the  work  of  the  last.  Committees 
were  named  in  those  years  for  everything,  with  the  apparent 
intent  of  having  as  many  localities  represented  in  each  as  pos- 
sible. With  the  wide  distances  involved,  this  was  a cumbrous 


no 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


and  difficult  plan,  but  broad  foundations  were  laid,  and  when 
Miss  Willard  made  her  memorable  tour  in  1883,  new  light 
dawned ; the  increase  of  unions  brought  many  within  touch  of 
others,  and  her  suggestion  of  departments  with  individual 
superintendents  must  have  been  promptly  acted  on,  for  in  that 
year  Dr.  C.  Annette  Buckel  was  made  Superintendent  of  Hy- 
giene, Miss  M.  E.  Chase,  of  Education;  Mrs.  Thomas  Varney, 
of  Relative  Statistics,  and  Mrs.  M.  E.  Congdon,  of  Text  Books 
in  Schools  and  Libraries. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  creation  of  departments  or  ap- 
pointment of  superintendents  but  at  the  next  convention  ten 
su])erintendents  made  glowing  reports  of  vigorous  work  done 
in  their  respective  departments.  Scanning  the  lists  of  these 
frcm  year  to  year  the  marvellous  versatility  of  the  women 
evidences  itself.  The  same  names  appear  in  the  most  widely 
different  lines  of  effort  and  with  equal  facility  they  applied 
themselves  to  any  specialty  to  which  they  might  be  appointed, 
though  the  tendency  has  been  to  develop  strong  specialists  by 
long  experience  in  one  department.  It  is  not  unusual  to  find  a 
woman,  superintendent  of  one  department  in  the  local  union, 
another  in  the  county,  and  yet  another  in  the  state,  with  the 
consequence  that  they  became  thoroughly  equipped  at  all 
points. 

The  departments  will  be  considered  in  the  order  in  which 
they  were  adopted  by  the  state  union.  Two,  in  the  nature  of 
things  became  Branches  because  they  represented  member- 
ship. 

Hygiene  and  Heredity. 

Dr.  C.  Annette  Buckel  was  made  Superintendent  of  Hygiene 
in  1883  and  at  once  gave  force  and  impetus  to  the  subject.  Her 
instruction  in  a series  of  lessons,  leaflets  and  lectures  was  very 
valuable.  The  demands  of  her  profession  took  her  from  the 
office  in  1885,  but  up  to  her  decease  in  1912  she  was  an  ardent 
student  and  scientific  writer  on  these  lines.  In  her  later  years, 
when  retired  from  professional  cares,  her  time  and  thought 
were  given  to  the  study  of  defective  children,  and  the  means 
of  developing  their  possibly  latent  faculties,  leaving  a bequest 
to  further  that  object.  It  is  good  to  know  that  she  had  carried 
it  so  far  that  it  is  to  be  taken  up  by  the  University  of  Califor- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  Ill 


nia,  and  a chair  will  probably  be  endowed  for  the  purpose, 
bearing  her  name,  as  a memorial  to  her  devotion  and  research. 

Dr.  Harriet  P.  Van  Kirk  succeeded  her  as  Superintendent, 
and  will  be  long  remembered  for  her  able  and  faithful  instruc- 
tion. Hygiene  and  Heredity  were  merged  in  1896  under  Mrs. 
Frances  H.  Bentley,  who  had  been  the  able  Superintendent  of 
Heredity  eleven  years.  Mrs.  Orra  J.  Ward,  the  present  Super- 
intendent, took  the  dual  department  in  1897  and  has  rendered 
distinguished  service  by  her  practical  literature  on  health  sub- 
jcets,  notably,  natural  foods,  fruits  and  vegetables. 

Evangelistic. 

Mrs.  Sophia  J.  Churchill  was  the  first  Superintendent  in 
1884,  and  a nobler  exponent  of  the  department  could  not  have 
been  chosen.  She  resigned  the  next  year  when  elected  state 
president,  but  resumed  the  position  in  1890.  Mrs.  Annie  K. 
Bidwell  served  six,  and  Mrs.  Jennette  L.  Everts  ten  years. 
Mrs.  M.  F.  Bunker  held  it  one  year  and  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Elmore, 
the  present  incumbent,  entered  on  her  labors  in  1909. 

This  is  felt  to  be  the  initial  department,  without  which  no 
union  exists ; and  no  group  of  women  could  have  better  repre- 
sented it,  or  have  shed  a brighter  luster  upon  all  the  work  by 
its  means.  The  results  of  their  efforts  cannot  be  told  in  statis- 
tics, or  even  incidentally,  for  it  has  been  recognized  as  the 
subtle  spiritual  force  that  has  permeated  and  directed  the 
whole  course  of  all  that  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  has  undertaken  or 
accomplished. 

The  Bible  in  Public  Schools  is  one  of  its  aims. 

Legislation  Petitions  and  Law  Enforcement. 

Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet  was  the  first  Superintendent  in  1884, 
and  fills  the  same  office  now.  During  the  seventeen  years  of 
her  presidency  of  the  State,  nine  women  successively  filled  the 
office  of  superintendent,  but  her  special  adaptability  to  the 
work,  as  well  as  her  official  position,  identified  her  always 
with  it.  She  represented  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  at  each  session  of 
the  legislature  with  rare  tact  and  grace,  while  the  Superin- 
tendents kept  up  the  requisite  correspondence  and  essential 
clerical  work. 

During  Mrs.  Dorr’s  presidency,  she  and  the  corresponding 


112 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


secretary,  Miss  Anna  E.  Chase,  have  represented  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  at  each  session  of  the  legislature,  and  as  results  prove, 
have  done  splendid  work. 

The  record  of  state  legislation  is  told  in  the  general  narra- 
tive already  given,  but  the  sum  of  local  effort  in  securing 
county  and  municipal  ordinances  will  never  be  told.  Persis- 
tent, unremitting  toil,  has  gone  on  all  over  the  State.  Defeats 
have  been  recognized  only  as  steps  toward  ultimate  success, 
so  promptly  have  the  unions  risen  to  renew  the  attack,  and 
by  their  undismayed  force  “dry”  ground  has  been  gained 
little  by  little  until  half  the  state  map  is  white. 

The  tedious  process  of  carrying  a bill  through  the  legisla- 
ture is  illustrated  by  the  passage  of  a bill  for  the  “Protection 
of  Girls.”  The  W.  C.  T.  U.  was  first  represented  at  the  capitol 
at  the  session  of  1887,  when  the  temperance  education  law 
was  secured,  but  this  measure  attracted  little  attention.  In 
1889  “The  Age  of  Consent”  was  raised  from  ten  to  fourteen 
years.  In  1895  an  effort  was  made  to  raise  it  to  eighteen.  It 
passed  both  houses  and  was  vetoed  by  Gov.  Budd.  In  1897 
it  was  raised  to  sixteen.  In  1899  it  was  again  raised  to  eigh- 
teen by  a vote  of  both  houses  and  the  bill  pocketed  by  Gov. 
Gage  without  signature.  In  later  sessions  it  was  simply  side- 
tracked, and  not  until  women  held  the  ballot  and  their  potency 
was  recognized,  did  it  become  a law  in  1913. 

In  work  for  local  and  county  ordinances  the  women’s  vote 
was  yet  more  persuasive,  apparently  conveying  a hint  of  its 
latent  power. 

Scientific  Temperance  Instruction. 

This  department  was  prefigured  by  the  “Prize  Essays  in 
Schools”  in  1881  and  1882. 

Mrs.  Mary  T.  McCall  was  the  first  Superintendent  in  1884. 
She  removed  to  the  east  the  next  year,  when  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spen- 
cer took  her  place.  Mrs.  L.  P.  Williams  succeeded  her  in  1891, 
and  Miss  Jessie  Norton  in  1893.  Mrs.  J.  J.  Coyle  served  from 
1897  to  1909,  twelve  years  of  strenuous  devotion,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  Mrs.  Sara  E.  Ayres,  the  present  Superintendent.  No 
department  has  done  greater  things.  First,  placing  temperance 
text-books  in  individual  schools ; then  securing  the  law,  mak- 
ing temperance  instruction  compulsory  in  all  public  schools ; 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  FANNIE  WOOD 


MRS.  GARRISON  TURNER 


MRS.  JENNIE  PHELPS  PURVIS  MRS. 

Stanislaus 


MARY  A. 


REICHENBACH 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS.  DUNCAN  BERRY 


MRS.  J.  L.  EVERTS 


Tri-County,  Santa  Cruz,  San  Benito  and  Monterey 


MRS.  MARGARET  COLEMAN 
Tri-County, 

Santa  Cruz,  San  Benito  and 
Monterey 


MRS.  M.  H.  WHITMER 
San  Luis  Obispo 


COUNTY  PRESIDENTS 


MRS  R.  A.  HAWKINS 


MRS.  FLORA  SAVAGE 


MRS.  LYDIA  HORSEMAN  MRS.  RACHEL  BARTHOLEMEW 

Tulare 


■nilO  WOMAN'S  ('ll  KIS'I'IAN  'I' lOM  I ’ K I i A NC  K UNION'S 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  113 


the  school  lectures  of  Mrs.  Eyster  for  three  years ; the  present 
standing  of  the  work  and  the  respect  of  all  educators ; and  the 
system  of  prize  essays  in  thousands  of  schools  by  which  mil- 
lions of  boys  and  girls  write  on  the  subject. 

Mrs.  Eyster  is  listed  as  department  lecturer  from  1898  to 
1906. 

Song. 

California  was  the  first  state  to  recognize  song  as  an  essen- 
tial department  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  Mrs.  L.  E.  Higgins  was 
Superintendent  in  1884,  Mrs.  Eva  Bishop  in  1887,  Mrs.  F.  M. 
Husted  in  1890,  Mrs.  Annie  Hilliker  in  1891,  and  Mrs.  Sadie 
Renowden  Bailey  began  in  1893.  For  twenty  years  “our 
Miriam”  has  led  by  her  voice  and  baton,  arranged  and  con- 
ducted music  for  state  conventions  and  congresses,  contribut- 
ing to  the  success  of  many  county  conventions  and  other 
meetings  by  the  inspiration  of  good  music  and  reliable  service. 
Her  sister,  Mrs.  Rebecca  B.  Painton,  often  sings  with  Mrs. 
Bailey  and  acts  as  Associate  Superintendent. 

This  department  has  been  effective  in  county  and  local 
unions.  San  Joaquin  County  had  a White  Ribbon  Quartette 
of  fine  singers  several  years,  known  as  the  “Clover  Leaf 
Choir”  enthusing  every  meeting  where  they  were  heard. 
There  were  several  White  Ribbon  Choirs  among  the  “Ys”  in 
the  early  90s.  The  Senior  L.  T.  L.  of  Corralitos  had  the  first 
vested  choir  in  the  state  as  a temperance  organization. 

Penal  and  Reformatory  Work. 

Mrs.  A.  B.  Gove  was  another  appointee  of  1884,  whose 
record  is  remarkable,  serving  nineteen  years  in  the  arduous 
and  often  delicate  tasks  which  fell  to  her  hands.  A woman  of 
rare  gifts,  pleasing  personality,  and  Christian  grace ; cultured, 
refined,  sympathetic  and  sensible,  she  gave  herself  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  unfortunate  without  stint  or  reservation,  and  by  her 
suggestions  and  experience  did  much  to  improve  the  condi- 
tions of  prisoners  in  general,  besides  the  personal  influence 
and  uplift  to  many  lives.  For  fifteen  years  she  went  regularly 
to  the  penitentiary  at  San  Quentin,  from  her  home  in  Oakland, 
Bible  in  hand,  every  alternate  Sunday,  and  ministered  to 
prisoners  as  each  occasion  offered.  Her  tender  spirituality 
and  sweet  motherliness  won  the  souls  of  lawless  men. 


114 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Many  discharged  men,  now  living  honestly,  are  indebted  to 
her  care  for  places  of  employment  amid  wholesome  environ- 
ment, that  gave  them  their  opportunities  to  begin  a better  life. 

Her  tireless  and  persistent  efforts  secured  the  first  Police 
Matrons  in  the  city  prison  of  San  Francisco,  and  the  state  law 
for  such  in  any  prison. 

After  her  retirement  the  department  was  conducted  by  Mrs. 
E.  S.  Humphrey  for  three  years,  and  then  by  Mrs.  J.  B.  Mc- 
Donald. Mrs.  Jean  Sinclair  entered  upon  it  in  1910  and  is  doing 
excellent  and  comprehensive  work  looking  to  advanced  prison 
reforms. 

Press. 

First  Superintendent,  Mrs.  Laura  P.  Williams,  1884.  Her 
report  is  an  augury  of  the  future  scope  of  this  department.  It 
began  by  securing  space  in  local  newspapers,  with  a woman  in 
each  union  to  fill  it.  The  amount  of  this  work  was  amazing 
This  method  is  still  an  important  factor,  in  its  primary  object 
and  in  training  reporters.  Newspapers  are  now  more  chary  of 
space,  and  the  Associated  Press,  professional  reporters,  inside 
editions,  and  syndicate  papers  have  added  facilities  to  press 
work. 

Mrs.  C.  E.  Babb  became  Superintendent  in  1885,  Mrs.  Grace 
M.  Kimball  in  1890,  and  in  1894  Mrs.  Clare  O.  Southard  ac- 
cepted the  work  she  is  still  most  efficiently  carrying  on.  She 
does  nothing  at  haphazard  but  long  before  special  events  are 
to  take  place,  arrangements  for  their  pubilicity  are  fully  made. 

The  excellent  reporters  developed  in  local  and  county 
unions  would  make  a splendid  roll  of  honor,  but  special  atten- 
tion cannot  be  withheld  from  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Cartwright,  who 
keeps  in  good  grace  with  editors  wherever  she  may  be,  by  her 
skill  and  tact  in  supplying  their  columns  with  fresh  readable 
news.  Her  reports  of  public  meetings,  conventions  and  con- 
gresses often  call  out  a public  r^ote  of  thanks. 

When  Frances  E.  Willard  organized  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  of  Ore- 
gon, in  1883,  Mrs.  Cartwright  was  elected  state  secretary,  and 
then  and  there  began  to  report,  since  when  her  ready  pen  has 
been  held  sacred  to  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

Mrs.  S.  A.  Huston  is  a professional  newspaper  woman  who 
found  herself  out  by  the  duties  of  Press  Superintendent  of 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  115 


Yolo  County,  and  twenty-three  years  ago  established  a weekly 
paper,  “The  Home  Alliance,”  of  which  she  is  Editor,  Manager 
and  general  factotum.  The  “Alliance”  continues  to  be  a rec- 
ognized aid  to  every  good  movement. 

Mrs.  Charlton  Edholm,  now  Mrs.  Frank  J.  Sibley,  was  an- 
other who  distinguished  herself  in  this  department.  Being  a 
professional  reporter,  she  was  familiar  with  the  methods  of 
her  craft,  by  which  a great  many  papers  could  simultaneously 
be  reached.  Preparing  original  matter  for  many  papers  to  be 
issued  at  different  points,  she  has  filled  three  hundred  columns 
in  a year.  With  tireless  energy  she  so  expanded  her  work  that 
in  1891  she  was  made  Superintendent  of  Press  for  the  World’s 
W.  C.  T.  U.,  the  first  Californian  to  be  honored  by  an  appoint- 
ment in  that  body.  In  that  capacity  she  reports  1000  columns 
published  in  one  year.  In  1895,  feeling  herself  especially 
called  to  another  field,  she  retired  from  official  work  in  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  and  entered  upon  that  of  “Rescue”  under  the 
Crittenden  Missions  to  which  she  has  since  devoted  many 
years  of  faithful  labor  by  voice  and  pen. 

Sunday  Schools. 

This  was  one  of  the  earliest  departments,  1884,  and  has 
been  a strong  bond  of  co-operation  with  the  church.  The  W.  C. 
T.  U.  has  not  lost  this  opportunity  to  clinch  its  teaching  with 
a “Thus  saith  the  Lord,”  the  quarterly  temperance  lessons 
holding  the  right  of  way  for  their  message.  The  Superintend- 
ents have  been  Mrs.  Caleb  Sadler,  Miss  Mary  Barbour,  Mes- 
dames  N.  B.  Eyster,  P.  H.  Matthews,  L.  M.  Thomson,  Eva  S. 
Gilchrist,  C.  Mansfield,  Eva  Williams,  and  Harriet  I.  Farr. 
Viticulture. 

This  department  has  probably  never  been  duplicated  in  any 
state.  Its  object  was  to  create  an  interest  in  the  culture  of 
grapes  for  other  purposes  than  the  manufacture  of  wine.  Mrs. 
L.  Kelley  was  made  Superintendent  in  1884  and  labored  hope- 
lessly two  years,  after  which  there  was  a lapse  until  1888, 
when  Mrs.  S.  M.  M.  Woodman  accepted  it  and 

Unfermented  Wine, 

was  added.  In  1894  the  original  name  was  dropped  and  the 
latter  substituted,  as  no  headway  seemed  to  be  made  in  the 


116 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


former  line.  The  sacramental  use  of  fermented  wine  was 
practically  universal  when  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  recognized  that 
alcohol  must  be  driven  from  holy  places  if  it  was  to  become 
disreputable.  The  persistent  teaching  on  this  line  has  made 
the  use  of  pure  grape  juice  at  the  sacrament  almost  as  univer- 
sal as  the  previous  custom  had  been.  Mrs.  Woodman  is  now 
serving  her  twenty-fifth  year  as  Superintendent  and  has  been 
so  absolutely  thorough  in  all  she  does,  that  she  continues  year 
after  year  to  take  the  banner  of  the  National  Superintendent 
for  the  best  reports  received  by  her. 

Literary  Bodies  and  School  Conventions. 

The  importance  of  presenting  the  work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
to  other  organizations  required  a special  Superintendent  and 
Mrs.  Mary  H.  Field,  than  whom  there  could  have  been  no 
abler,  was  appoint?ed  in  1884.  She  soon  after  became  the  state 
recording  secretary,  and  was  many  years  the  general  secretary 
of  the  Chatauqua.  She  was  succeeded  in  1891  by  Miss  M.  E. 
Norton,  and  later  by  Mrs.  Ada  Van  Pelt,  and  Mrs.  Lydia  F. 
Luse,  and  in  1899  the  work  was  relegated  to  the  general  of- 
ficers. 

County  Fairs. 

First  Superintendent,  Mrs.  Susan  D.  Whitney,  1884.  Under 
her  guidance  all  fairs  were  included  and  the  word  county 
dropped  from  the  name.  In  the  next  year  the  “Y’s”  of  San 
Francisco  had  a booth  at  the  Mechanics’  Fair,  handsomely 
decorated,  having  on  one  side  the  kindergarten  display  lately 
exhibited  at  New  Orleans,  and  on  the  other  a printing  press 
operated  by  young  men,  on  which  temperance  tracts  were 
printed,  and  with  other  literature  donated,  they  gave  out  65.- 
000  pages,  and  received  277  signatures  to  the  pledge.  At  the 
close  of  the  fair,  the  Board  of  Directors,  of  their  own  motion 
awarded  the  Y.  W.  C.  T.  U.  a diploma  for  “Artistic  decoration 
of  their  booth,  and  zeal  in  their  management,  exemplifying 
the  high  moral  character  of  their  work.” 

Mrs.  Joel  B.  Russel  was  next  Superintendent  in  1888.  Coun- 
ty fairs  had  generally  granted  space  to  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  and 
good  work  was  done.  In  some,  money  enough  to  meet  all  ex- 
penses was  received  in  premiums.  Rest  rooms  were  provided 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  117 


by  several,  and  always  cold  water  and  literature.  After  the 
success  of  county  fairs,  access  was  obtained  to  the  state  fair, 
where  a booth  has  been  kept  every  year.  In  1911  it  was  shared 
with  the  Suffrage  Association  and  made  a center  of  suffrage 
propaganda.  At  citrus  fairs,  the  local  unions  have  won  sev- 
eral prizes  for  artistic  decoration. 

Cloverdale,  in  the  heart  of  the  northern  citrus  belt,  has  a 
reputation  for  these,  having  once  a well  with  the  old  oaken 
bucket,  all  made  of  oranges;  and  each  year  a new  and  striking 
design,  attracting  crowds  to  whom  literature  is  freely  given. 

While  writing  this,  a report  from  Humboldt  county  in  1889 
reappears,  and  affords  an  illustration  of  what  many  counties 
were  doing.  “The  pavilion  is  on  the  fair  ground,  and  the  W. 
C.  T.  U.  has  its  own  modest  roof-tree  there,  called  a ‘rest 
booth,’  furnished  for  the  time  with  easy  chairs  and  lounges, 
to  which  ten  cents  admits  any  one.  Toilet  facilities  are  pro- 
vided to  wash  the  candy  off  the  children  or  the  dust  from  the 
traveler;  baggage  is  checked,  and  luminous  thought,  babies 
are  taken  care  of  at  ten  cents  an  hour,  affording  young  mothers 
the  rest  and  pleasure  of  the  occasion,  the  climax  of  enterprise 
and  loving  kindness.” 

Mesdames  Emma  G.  Snow,  M.  J.  Mayhew,  and  Z.  Buck- 
minster were  successive  Superintendents  until  1897,  since 
when  the  state  officers  have  arranged  for  the  state  fair  as  the 
county  officers  do  for  theirs. 

Coffee  Houses. 

The  very  name  of  this  department  suggests  its  historic  char- 
acter. In  the  early  times  of  California  eating  places  had  been 
invariably  drinking  places  also,  and  there  was  a popular  de- 
lusion, so  universal  was  the  drink  custom,  that  an  eating  house 
could  not  be  made  profitable  without  the  sale  of  liquor.  When 
the  temperance  wave  broke  on  these  shores,  the  first  impulse 
of  every  union  was  to  start  a coffee  house  as  an  antidote  to  the 
saloon.  In  the  rural  towns  there  was  little  financial  success, 
but  much  labor  and  sacrifice,  with  a moral  influence  that  was 
a protest  against  existing  conditions,  but  insufficient  pecuniary 
support.  The  patronage  of  the  cities  stood  the  test,  and  all 
did  a great  part  for  the  temperance  cause. 

In  all  these  department  sketches,  the  experience  of  one  will 


118 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


serve  as  a type  of  many.  One  in  San  Francisco  opened  in 
1882,  will  illustrate.  Women  saw  the  homeless  young  men 
squandering  time  and  money  in  saloons,  and  felt  it  was  for 
lack  of  human  sympathy  that  so  many  lives  were  thrown 
away.  The  Coffee  House  gave  access  to  such,  and  women, 
sweet  and  gentle,  who  would  shrink  from  positions  involving 
publicity  could  approach  a young  man  quietly,  secure  his  con- 
fidence and  rescue  the  life  that  was  drifting  away.  One  who 
brought  in  many  such  sheaves,  tells  of  her  daily  efforts.  “How 
I watched  them  as  they  came  in  Mondays,  haggard  and  worn 
from  Sunday’s  debauch,  and  asked  credit  for  something  to 
eat,  and  I determined  that  they  should  feel  my  care  for  them. 
I used  to  take  a cup  of  coffee  and  go  sit  at  their  table,  talk 
with  them,  and  make  them  feel  my  personal  interest.  On  Sat- 
urday nights  they  would  bring  me  their  wages  of  which  I 
would  give  them  enough  to  carry  them  over  Sunday,  and  keep 
the  rest  for  them  until  Monday.  Soon  they  would  take  my 
advice  and  allow  me  to  put  the  money  in  a savings  bank,  and 
as  they  began  to  save,  they  forgot  to  drink.  I used  to  keep 
their  bank  books  three  months,  and  by  that  time  they  did  not 
need  such  care.  Sometimes  I had  as  many  as  seven  bank- 
books in  my  little  bag  belonging  to  these  men,  trying  to  re- 
form.” 

This  personal  touch  with  men  who  could  not  have  been 
reached  otherwise,  was  the  mission  of  the  Coffee  House,  and 
well  it  served  its  purpose.  There  was  always  a Reading  Room 
attached.  Business  men  sometimes  said  to  the  women,  “You 
are  encouraging  loafers,”  but  they  gave  them  a decent  loafing 
place.  When  one  said  for  himself,  “You  are  doing  too  much 
for  us,”  they  knew  he  would  soon  do  better  for  himself.  A 
Gospel  Meeting  was  held  in  the  Reading  Room  on  Tuesday 
evenings  under  the  auspices  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association,  and  a temperance  meeting  on  another  evening  of 
each  week. 

Six  of  these  Coffee  Houses  were  maintained  in  the  city, 
serving  to  prove  their  feasibility  so  well,  that  men  with  more 
capital  and  greater  business  advantages  gradually  took  away 
their  patronage  and  so  ended  their  career. 

One  Coffee  House  did  a business  of  over  $15,000  a year. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  119 


Everywhere  the  Coffee  House  was  a refining  and  reforming 
factor.  In  some  of  the  larger  towns  they  became  sources  of 
revenue  for  the  unions  and  furnished  money  to  carry  forward 
large  plans  of  work.  One  union  had  by  this  means  acquired 
a convenient  bank  account,  and  was  able  to  aid  a kindred  or- 
ganization. The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  was 
erecting  a building  for  its  own  work,  and  asked  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
for  a subscription  to  its  building,  fund.  The  Union  pledged 
$1000  on  the  condition  that  it  should  have  the  use  of  one  room 
in  which  to  hold  its  meetings.  The  National  Union  had  lately 
passed  the  famous  resolution  by  which  it  was  pledged  to  stand 
by  any  party  that  would  adopt  a prohibition  plank  in  its  plat- 
form. Word  came  back  from  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  that  the  proposi- 
tion could  not  be  accepted  if  meetings  were  to  be  held  in  the 
interest  of  prohibition.  The  union  did  not  give  the  money. 
The  building  was  erected,  but  never  paid  for,  and  finally  went 
into  the  hands  of  a Spiritualist  Society. 

The  experimental  Coffee  Houses  among  the  unions  were  very 
numerous,  those  at  San  Jose  and  Oakland  became  popular 
lunch  places  and  enjoyed  a long  and  prosperous  career.  That 
at  San  Jose,  after  a successful  life  of  eleven  years,  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  July  first,  1892. 

When  these  had  been  fully  demonstrated  to  be  a public  nec- 
essity for  which  the  public  would  pay,  the  demand  was  met 
without  the  aid  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  the  department  dis- 
continued in  1896.  Its  superintendents  had  been  Mesdames 
Nellie  B.  Eyster,  F.  S.  Vaslit,  M.  N.  Cook,  P.  H.  Templeton, 
S.  M.  Gardner,  S.  F.  Barnum,  Clare  O.  Southard,  and  Grace 
M.  Kimball,  all  women  of  ability  and  strength  of  purpose. 

So  recently  as  1897  when  the  National  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor  met  in  San  Francisco,  a salutary  lesson  was  given 
to  restaurants.  Crowds  of  hungry  people  poured  down  the 
streets  and  into  the  restaurants  only  to  turn  again  to  the 
streets  when  they  saw  wine  or  beer  on  the  lunch  tables.  A list 
of  temperance  eating  places  was  kept  at  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
Headquarters  and  the  crowds  directed  to  them.  The  effect 
was  striking  in  the  instantaneous  and  often  permanent  changes 
made. 


120 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Free  Reading  Rooms. 

Hardly  a union  in  the  earlier  years  that  did  not  undertake  to 
supply  this  natural  want  of  gregarious  humanity;  some  place 
to  go,  that  was  not  a saloon.  Every  Coffee  House  had  its  read- 
ing room,  and  it  seemed  a needful  adjunct  to  some  other  de- 
partments. Here  and  there  one  became  the  nucleus  of  a li- 
brary, and  was  taken  over  by  the  town.  From  the  little  unions 
where  the  women  “took  turn  about”  in  tending  the  coal  oil 
larrips,  and  keeping  the  boys  quiet,  to  larger  ones  with  better 
facilities,  all  did  their  part  in  public  education. 

Among  the  first  unions  to  open  a Reading  Room  was  Hol- 
lister, in  1884.  It  passed  through  all  possible  phases  that  ex- 
perience of  such  an  enterprise  could  have.  The  unfailing  de- 
votion of  members  sustained  it ; gifts  of  newspapers  by  pub- 
lishers, books,  magazines  and  other  necessities,  by  friends, 
entertainments,  and  public  dinners,  were  all  utilized,  until  it 
was  recognized  as  a public  utility  by  an  authorized  monthly 
stipend  from  the  town  treasury.  The  W.  C.  T.  U.  nourished  it 
until  it  was  merged  with  its  1000  volumes  into  the  beautiful 
Carnegie  Library  of  the  town. 

Next  in  years  of  service  is  the  Reading  Room  of  Boulder 
Creek,  which  was  opened  on  New  Year’s  Day,  1893.  The 
Southern  Pacific  Rail  Road  Co.  donated  a building  site  on  con- 
dition that  a Reading  Room  be  maintained  ten  years.  The 
ambitious  union  raised  a fund  of  $700,  secured  gifts  of  a con- 
siderable amount  in  material  and  labor,  and  built  their  own 
Headquarters,  a most  useful  adjunct  to  their  work.  The  rent 
of  its  second  story  provided  the  requisite  care  and  attendance 
for  the  room.  The  town  was  once  the  center  of  extensive 
lumber  interests,  thronged  by  homeless  men  from  the  lumber 
camps,  but  is  now  a quiet  rural  community  of  which  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  Reading  Room  remains  a factor  for  good  influences. 

Not  every  Reading  Room  enjoyed  an  atmosphere  so  friend- 
ly. One  in  the  far  north  at  Yreka  had  a troubled  life.  The 
union  had  hired  a room  on  a principal  street,  made  it  comfort- 
able and  attractive,  so  that  it  was  doing  well.  A saloon  of  the 
worst  type  located  next  door.  The  thin  walls  of  both  build- 
ings, made  the  noise  and  vile  language  of  the  saloon  intolera- 
ble. It  became  a question  which  should  hold  its  ground 
against  the  other,  but  charges  were  brought  against  the  sa- 


ORGANIZERS 


MISS  I.  C.  DeVELLING 


REV.  BRIDELLE  C.  H.  WASH- 
BURN 


MU.  I'IDVVAUI)  COMOMAN  |)|;,  U,  M.  McOONAUU 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  121 


loon-keeper,  and  in  an  open  trial  before  the  supervisors,  were 
sustained,  and  his  license  revoked.  Notorious  as  the  place  had 
been,  a false  sympathy  was  aroused  and  a numerously  signed 
petition  presented  to  the  supervisors  asking  for  another  license 
to  be  granted  him.  This  could  not  be  legally  done,  and  the 
man  was  driven  to  other  pursuits.  Mrs.  Julia  P.  Churchill, 
the  president  of  Siskiyou  County,  having  been  very  active  in 
the  proceeding,  was  prompted  soon  after  to  write  a kind 
Christian  letter  to  him.  Undoubtedly  this  arrested  his  thought, 
for  he  became  a changed  man,  acknowledging  her  letter  to 
have  so  influenced  him. 

Coffee  Houses  and  Reading  Rooms  were  merged  in  one  de- 
partment and  when  the  former  was  discontinued,  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Everts  assumed  the  care  of  the  latter,  followed  by  Mrs.  Jennie 
Dixon  in  1898,  Mrs.  J.  Shattuck  Morey  in  1900,  and  Mrs.  Lot- 
tie Devert  in  1911. 

Coffee  Houses  and  Reading  Rooms  supplying  a general 
need,  naturally  affiliated.  The  saloon  could  not  be  tolerated  did 
it  not  afford  some  of  the  social  demands  these  institutions 
were  designed  to  meet.  In  Santa  Clara  county  several  organi- 
zations, including  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  and  many  individual 
friends  are  co-operating  to  establish  “Friendly  Inns”  or  model 
road  houses,  where  “water  for  man  and  beast,  toilet  provisions, 
hitching  posts  and  sheds  for  teams,  bicycle  racks,  use  of 
papers  and  magazines,  and  sheltered  out  door  seats  may  be 
had  free,  with  a reasonable  fee  for  other  accommodations.” 

This  is  probably  the  precursor  of  the  “Municipal  Centers” 
of  which  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  has  dreamed  for  years. 

Soldiers  and  Sailors. 

The  great  seaport  of  San  Francisco  with  its  hundreds  of 
seamen  coming  and  going,  only  5 per  cent  of  whom  had  wives 
or  homes,  and  its  contiguous  fortifications  and  naval  stations 
manned  by  homeless  men,  made  a special  claim  on  the  mother 
hearts  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  Mrs.  T.  K.  Noble  was  made  Super- 
intendent of  Work  for  Soldiers  and  Sailors  in  1884.  In  the 
following  year  it  was  found  wiser  to  separate  the  two.  Miss 
S.  M,  N.  Cummings  for  seven  years  took  charge  of  the  work 
for  Sailors,  during  which  a local  union  was  known  as  the 
Sailors’  Union,  and  did  good  work  among  seamen,  meeting  in 


122 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


I he  Seamen’s  Bethel,  giving  weekly  socials,  holding  Gospei 
Temperance  meetings,  and  aiding  in  their  Reading  Room  and 
Library  by  the  continual  supply  of  literature.  During  this  time 
the  work  for  Soldiers  was  conducted  by  Mesdames  Capt. 
Thomas,  Sarah  C.  Borland,  Rose  M.  French  and  M.  K.  FTar- 
nish,  all  women  of  special  aptitude  and  experience.  In  1898 
the  two  departments  were  reunited  under  Mrs.  Hannah 
Wright,  succeeded  in  1899  by  Mrs.  Annie  Hilliker,  and  in  1900 
by  Mrs.  Alice  E.  Bradley,  the  present  incumbent.  Since  the 
Ctiban  war  and  Naval  exploits  in  the  Philippines  this  depart- 
ment has  been  very  active,  and  is  always  ready  for  calls  to 
service 

Dr.  Mary  A.  Palm,  former  Superintendent  of  Non-Alcoholic 
Medication,  was  the  first  woman  appointed  for  service  in  Man- 
ila, by  the  Red  Cross  Society  in  1898. 

Foreign. 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Carver,  the  first  Superintendent,  laid  founda- 
tions in  1885  and  1886.  Mrs.  E.  P.  Stevens  taking  it  in  1887, 
after  that  there  was  a lapse  of  some  years,  but  in  the  mean- 
time Mrs.  Skelton  was  at  work  among  Germans.  A German 
Union  was  organized  at  San  Jose,  which  was  maintained  for 
seventeen  years,  San  Francisco  had  a German  union  four 
years,  one  of  Russian  Finns,  one  year,  and  for  several  years  a 
union  of  Swedish  women  did  excellent  work.  Foreign  litera- 
ture in  many  languages  was  always  kept  at  Headquarters  and 
used  freely  by  local  unions.  The  present  Superintendent,  Mrs. 
C.  S.  Danks  took  up  the  department  in  1901  and  is  working  on 
broad  and  comprehensive  lines.  Her  presentation  of  the  sub 
ject  at  the  Summer  Congresses  has  been  very  effective. 

Mrs.  M.  S.  Carey  of  San  Jose,  as  a teacher  of  Chinese,  wa^ 
able  to  use  much  literature  in  that  language.  Mrs.  L.  P.  Will- 
iams from  a long  experience  in  missionary  organizations  had 
a wide  grasp  of  the  situation,  and  did  thoroughly  systematic 
work  for  them.  A leaflet  on  “Alcohol  and  Opium”  by  IMrs. 
Nellie  B.  Eyster  was  translated  into  Chinese  and  had  a large 
circulation  by  means  of  personal  efforts ; and  in  more  than  one 
Chinese  store  in  the  country  places,  that  leaflet  was  kept  in 
use  by  the  Chinese  themselves. 

Mrs.  Julia  Barrett  of  Sacramento  did  a remarkable  work  for 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  123 


Chinese.  Being  a teacher  of  stenography,  she  adapted  the  Pit- 
man System  of  Shorthand  writing  to  the  sounds  of  the  Chi- 
nese language,  and  a large  number  of  Chinese  became  profi- 
cient in  its  use.  Her  heart’s  desire  was  to  publish  the  Gospels  in 
that  form,  as  it  would  be  so  much  more  easily  learned  than 
reading  by  means  of  the  great  number  of  the  old  Chinese 
characters  required.  She  has  the  joy  of  knowing  that  some 
large  schools  in  China,  including  that  of  the  Jesuit  Fathers  at 
Foo  Chou,  and  the  Adventists,  have  adopted  it,  while  its  intro- 
duction in  business  houses  is  making  its  own  way  to  more 
general  use. 

A unique  feature  in  organization  was  a union  of  foreign 
women  auxiliary  to  the  National  Union  of  Japan.  Miss  Hay- 
ashi  of  Osaki  came  to  Oakland  in  1905,  and  while  there  met 
her  Christian  countrywomen  at  the  Japanese  Methodist 
Church,  when  they  decided  to  organize  a local  W.  C.  T.  U.  At 
Miss  Hayashi’s  suggestion  they  waited  a few  months  for 
the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Kazahi,  when  they  organized  in  the  Japan- 
ese Congregational  Church,  with  twenty-two  members  includ- 
ing officers.  In  the  following  year  Mrs.  Yajima,  National 
President  of  Japan  was  here,  and  advised  them  to  become 
auxiliary  to  the  state  union,  where  they  found  a warm  wel- 
come. It  is  a good  union,  conducted  in  their  native  language, 
and  the  usual  order  of  work.  Evidently  the  younger  women 
understand  English  but  it  is  expedient  to  use  the  language 
familiar  to  all.  State  or  county  officers  visiting  them,  speak 
through  an  interpreter.  There  is  another  Japanese  union  at 
Sacramento,  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Mary  Bowen,  who  con- 
ducts an  “Independent  Mission  to  Japanese.”  This  union  has 
done  excellent  work  and  has  been  especially  generous  in  its 
gifts  to  the  general  funds  of  the  state. 

Oriental  Work. 

Which  seems  to  fall  naturally  under  the  name  “Eoreign” 
was  made  a department  in  1895  with  Mrs.  L.  P.  Williams,  Su- 
perintendent. In  1907  when  Miss  Kara  Smart,  “Round  the 
World  Missionary,”  returned  from  several  years  spent  in 
Japan,  the  Japanese  work  was  given  to  her,  Mrs.  Williams 
retaining  the  Chinese. 

Mrs.  Julia  A.  Barrett  was  made  Evangelist  to  the  Chinese. 


124 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


and  Mrs.  Mary  Bowen,  Evangelist  to  the  Japanese,  succeeding 
Mrs.  Kara  Smart  Root  as  Superintendent  in  1910. 

Kindergarten. 

The  first  Superintendent,  Mrs.  E.  G.  Greene,  began  in  1885 
with  characteristic  thoroughness  to  lay  plans  and  publish 
required  literature,  creating  a wide  spread  interest  and  result- 
ing in  active  work.  She  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  E.  W.  Farish 
in  1888  and  on  her  removal  from  the  State  in  1892  Mrs.  Greene 
resumed  the  work.  The  Kindergarten  supported  by  the  local 
union  at  San  Jose  having  proved  its  value  to  the  town,  was 
taken  over  by  the  Board  of  Education,  as  those  in  San  Fran- 
cisco had  been  by  the  Kindergarten  Association.  The  name 
of  this  department  was  dropped  and  its  work  given  to  that  of 

Mothers’  Meetings. 

No  department  has  done  more  fundamental  work,  entered 
more  largely  into  both  domestic  and  public  interest,  or  been 
more  ably  led  than  this.  Mrs.  J.  D.  Jamison  became  Superin- 
tendent in  1897,  Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman  in  1903,  Mrs.  N.  S. 
Sheppa  in  1904,  Mrs.  Louise  Seymour  in  1909,  and  Mrs.  E. 
Musselman,  the  present  incumbent  in  1910. 

Union  Signal. 

The  National  Organ  called  for  special  effort  in  1885  and 
Mrs.  E.  P.  Stevens  was  made  the  first  Superintendent,  Mrs. 
Eyster  in  1886,  then  it  was  merged  with  literature.  In  1894 
“National  and  State  Organs”  were  made  a department  with 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Lackie,  Superintendent.  In  1895  Mrs.  M.  E.  Har- 
rison, Superintendent,  then  merged  with  “Press,”  but  again 
“Union-Signal”  under  Mrs.  S.  J.  Dorr  in  1904.  On  her  election 
TO  the  presidency  in  1907  Mrs.  J.  E.  Rhoads  assumed  it,  and 
at  her  death  it  came  in  1912  to. Mrs.  Florence  Glaze. 

Social  Meetings  and  Red  Letter  Days. 

This  department  was  instituted  under  the  name  of  “Draw- 
ing Room  Work”  in  1886,  but  in  conformity  with  the  National, 
in  1890  took  the  present  name,  indicating  the  commemoration 
of  important  events  or  distinguished  lives  by  anniversary 
social  observances.  It  has  been  a social  and  educational  factor 
®f  great  value,  and  most  ably  conducted  by  active  Superin- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  125 


tendents.  The  first,  Mrs.  P.  D.  Browne,  served  ten  years, 
Mrs.  F.  S.  Vaslit-Hackett  nine  years,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Berry  one, 
and  in  1907  Mrs.  Mary  Norwood  Ostrander,  the  present  super- 
intendent, entered  upon  its  duties. 

Literature. 

This  was  one  of  the  earliest  necessities,  and  Mrs.  S.  J.  Me 
Chesney  was  given  this  important  charge  in  1885,  Mrs.  R.  R. 
Johnston  in  1886,  then  Miss  S.  M.  M.  Cummings.  When  the 
requirements  of  the  work  made  it  necessary  for  the  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  to  be  in  constant  attendance  at  Headquar- 
ters, that  officer  was  made  ex-officio  Superintendent  of  Litera- 
ture with  a large  stock  of  great  variety,  always  on  hand  to 
meet  every  demand.  It  would  be  interesting,  if  possible,  to 
tell  of  all  the  original  publications  of  state  superintendents,  as 
each  one  met  the  wants  of  her  own  work.  Each  Secretary  has 
in  turn  given  her  best  energies  and  yearly  brought  out  valua- 
ble material,  the  present  year  having,  especially  in  the  lines  of 
legislation  for  the  Red  Light  Bill,  Purity  and  the  White  Slave 
Traffic  exceeded  all  previous  records. 

In  1890  a complete  “Digest  of  the  Liquor  Laws  of  Califor- 
nia” was  published  by  the  state  union  in  a convenient  booklet, 
that  was  very  useful.  Some  years  later,  a new  edition  was 
brought  out,  revised  to  date,  that  became  a handy  work  of 
reference.  Handbooks,  Record,  and  Treasurer’s  books  on 
original  plans  have  been  issued  as  required  and  numerous 
leaflets  on  many  subjects,  supplying  the  requirements  of  every 
rising  issue. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Franchise. 

The  earliest  work  for  Equal  Suffrage  in  California,  culmin- 
ated in  a Woman’s  Suffrage  Convention  in  San  Francisco, 
1871,  in  which  Dr.  Carrie  F.  Young,  later  a worker  in  the  W. 
C.  T.  U.,  took  a large  part.  She  made  an  impassioned,  but 
unavailing  plea  to  the  Legislature  for  woman’s  right  to  the  bal- 
lot, and  had  some  share  in  securing  co-educational  rights  at 
the  state  University;  a great  joy  to  her  as  she  had  been  a 
victim  of  collegiate  injustice  to  women,  and  not  permitted  to 
take  the  degree  she  had  won,  in  the  ’50s.  She  afterwards  did 
excellent  work  in  “Scientific  Temperance  Instruction,”  pub- 
lishing much  original  literature,  traveling  extensively  among 
schools,  and  lived  to  see  her  heart’s  desire,  “Votes  for 
Women.” 

Suffrage  was  not  popular,  and  the  prejudice  of  ages  had  to 
be  overcome.  It  was  not  until  1886  that  “Franchise”  was  made 
a department  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  Miss  Sarah  M.  Severance, 
than  whom  no  state  had  ever  an  abler  or  wiser  leader,  served 
as  superintendent  twenty  years,  when  failing  health  demanded 
rest.  Mrs.  P.  H.  Truax  took  the  place  and  won  from  the  Nat- 
ional Superintendent  honors  for  her  work.  The  campaign  of 
1911  found  Miss  Severance  only  less  active  than  before,  and 
her  friends  rejoicing  that  she  could  “fight  to  the  finish”  and 
enjoy  the  fruition  of  the  long  struggle,  “all  of  which  she  saw 
and  part  of  which  she  was.”  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  of  her, 
and  it  may  be  said  without  the  least  reflection  on  others,  that 
no  other  individual  contributed  so  much  to  the  cause  of  equal 
suffrage  in  California.  She  gave  of  her  means  and  herself.  Her 
ready  pen  was  always  in  hand,  her  active  mind  alert,  the  sound 
logic  and  flashing  wit  of  her  argument  made  her  a convincing 
speaker ; and  this  service  was  not  for  a day,  or  a campaign, 
but  for  final  victory.  Unobtrusively  but  persistently  she 
wrought  for  thirty  years. 

The  women  of  the  local  unions  all  over  the  state  had  been 
for  years  under  her  direct  and  intelligent  leadership,  and  when 
the  final  campaign  was  reached,  these  groups  had  made  in- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  127 


fluential  centers  of  strength  and  activity,  contributing  to  the 
result. 

The  ballot  was  given  to  women  by  Constitutional  Amend- 
ment in  1911  and  the  department  discontinued  in  1912. 

Social  Purity. 

This  department  was  adopted  in  1886,  with  a fine  sense  of 
its  importance,  and  a realization  of  the  immense  educational 
work  to  be  done.  It  was  intrusted  to  Mrs.  Hannah  Bean  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  a woman  of  rare  culture  and  rich  exper- 
ience, who  impressed  herself  on  its  earliest  efforts.  When 
obliged  to  retire  from  it,  she  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  W.  S. 
Urmy,  and  later  by  Dr.  L.  J.  Kellogg  who  introduced  the 
White  Cross  and  White  Shield.  In  1891  under  Mrs.  E.  G. 
Greene,  in  conformity  with  the  National  Union,  the  name  of 
the  department  became  “Promotion  of  Purity.”  In  1892  Mrs. 
M.  E.  Teats  entered  upon  it  and  for  years  while  engaged  in 
field  work,  gave  original  and  thorough  teaching  on  these 
lines.  Her  mantle  fell  on  Mrs.  Lizzie  N.  Fryer,  who  after  one 
year  of  service,  felt  the  call  for  work  for  the  young  in  a college 
town  and  resigned;  Mrs.  A.  C.  Bainbridge,  with  the  experience 
of  a veteran  teacher  followed  her,  and  made  her  instruction 
felt.  A gifted  woman  of  the  “Do  Everything”  order,  she  spec- 
ialized on  “Sex  Hygiene”  and  did  fine  work  in  schools,  and 
wherever  else  a door  opened  to  her  advance.  She  has  made  a 
systematic  study  of  the  subject  and  holds  a Diploma  from  the 
State  Board  of  Education  and  the  State  Board  of  Health,  as 
an  authorized  teacher  on  that  delicate  and  important  subject. 
On  her  removal  from  the  state,  another  splendidly  equipped 
woman,  Mrs.  Rose  M.  French  was  appointed  but  was  unex- 
pectedly called  to  England.  The  general  officers  temporarily 
carried  the  growing  work,  culminating  in  the  “Educational 
Campaign  for  the  Red  Light  Injunction  and  Abatement  Law.” 

Mrs.  Mary  P.  Hawley  was  appointed  in  1912. 

In  1907  the  name  was  again  changed  to  “Moral  Education” 
but  has  since  resumed  its  most  expressive  title.  Purity. 

Sabbath  Observance. 

Mrs.  Emma  Cameron  was  the  first  Superintendent  from 
1886  to  1890,  when  she  left  the  state,  but  on  her  return  did 


128 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


excellent  service  in  San  Francisco  for  many  years.  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Mayhew  held  the  department  one  year,  and  Mrs.  Christine 
Armstrong  came  to  it  in  1891,  since  when  her  devotion  to  the 
cause  has  been  unswerving.  She  has  co-operated  with  other 
organizations  bringing  A'arious  elements  into  united  action, 
and  has  contributed  strong  articles  to  the  literature  of  the 
department  in  her  twenty-two  years  of  faithful,  efficient  ser- 
vice. 

Finance. 

This  was  always  a difficult  problem  and  evidently  no  one 
was  saitsfied  with  her  own  success  for  six  women  each  served 
but  one  year  when  it  came  to  Mrs.  J.  L.  Everts  in  1892,  who 
held  it  to  1896,  when  she  was  relieved  by  Mrs.  Grace  M.  Kim- 
ball. At  her  death  in  1905  the  work  was  relegated  to  a Finance 
Committee  of  which  the  treasurer  is  chairman. 

Narcotics. 

This  department  has  always  been  active.  Mrs.  L.  J.  Whit- 
more was  the  first  superintendent  from  1887  to  1890  when  the 
name  was  changed  to 

Anti-Narcotics. 

Mrs.  J.  P.  Purvis  came  next  and  did  especially  thorough 
work  in  petitions,  legislation  and  general  efficiency.  When 
the  Anti-Tobacco  Bill  was  under  consideration  she  staid  in 
Sacramento  at  her  own  expense  to  see  it  through.  Mrs.  Mary 
I.  Mallory  led  the  next  five  years,  and  earned  a Gold  Medal 
for  the  state,  awarded  by  the  National  Superintendent  for  the 
best  work  reported  to  her.  Miss  Isabel  Patterson  followed  in 
1906,  and  Miss  Julia  Willson,  the  present  Superintendent,  in 
1909. 

Railroad  Rates. 

With  the  hope  of  securing  special  rates  to  National  Conven- 
tions, in  1887,  Mrs.  Charlton  Edholm  was  made  Superintend- 
ent of  Railroad  Rates.  Transcontinental  rates  were  impossible, 
and  the  state  railroads  having  adopted  special  rates  for  all 
conventions  in  the  state,  the  department  was  dropped. 

Work  Among  Lumbermen. 

This  department  is  an  evangelistic  effort  to  reach  the  men 


SUPERINTENDENTS  OE  DEPARTMENTS 


MRS.  ELIZA  NELSON  FRYER 
Purity 


SUPERINTENDENTS  OE  DEPARTMENTS 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  WELLS  PARISH 
Kindergarten 


MRS.  FRANCES  H.  BENTLEY 
Heredity 


MRS.  SUSAN  D.  WHITNEY 

Work  at  Fairs 


MRS.  JOEL  RUSSELL 


SUPERINTENDENTS  OE  DEPARTMENTS 


MRS.  GRACE  M.  KIMBALL 
Finance 


JIRS.  CLARE  O.  SOUTHARD 
Press 


MRS.  A.  B.  GOVE 
Prison 


MRS.  MARY  H.  CARTWRIGHT 
Mercy 


SUPERINTENDENTS  OE  DEPARTMENTS 


MRS.  M.  N.  COOK 
Coffee  House 


MRS.  F.  S.  VASLIT-HACKETT 
Social  Meetings 


MRS.  ELIZABETH  SHELLEY 
Medical  Temperance 


Evangelistic,  and  Pres.  Merced 
County 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  129 


in  the  great  lumber  camps,  and  the  good  work  expended  in  it 
has  not  always  brought  results  apparently  commensurate 
with  the  effort,  but  it  is  believed  that  it  has  been  well  worth 
while.  Its  Superintendents  have  since  1889  been  Mesdames 
McCullom,  Anna  M.  Reed,  A.  B.  Campbell,  and  Emma  P. 
Long,  the  present  incumbent,  who  began  in  1909. 

Non-Alcoholic  Medication. 

This  very  effective  department  was  instituted  in  1889  and 
has  bfeen  highly  educational  in  its  local,  county,  and  state 
work.  Mrs.  M.  N.  Cook,  superintendent,  made  good  begin- 
nings the  first  two  years,  then  Mrs.  H.  J.  Merrit,  Dr.  Anna 
Booth,  Dr.  Mary  Palm,  Dr.  Minnie  Hurlburt,  Dr.  Alice  Goss, 
and  Mrs.  Ludie  Reynolds  each  had  it  a year,  Mrs.  E.  S.  Potter, 
the  next  two.  During  her  term  she  prepared  a very  dramatic 
illustration  of  her  teaching  in  a platform  exercise  called  “The 
Doctor’s  Day  Off,”  presented  by  seven  or  eight  characters  so 
effectively  that  it  was  published  by  the  state  and  used  in 
county  conventions  and  programs  of  other  states.  Mrs.  A.  A. 
Knisley  took  the  work  in  1901  and  Mrs.  Mary  Smith  in  1894. 
The  name  was  changed  to  MEDICAL  TEMPERANCE  in 
1904.  Mrs.  Rose  Grigsby  became  Superintendent  in  1909,  and 
Mrs.  E.  H.  Shelley  in  1910,  and  was  complimented  by  the 
National  Superintendent  for  her  efficiency.  Mrs.  H.  F.  Wake- 
field succeeded  her  in  1912. 

Temperance  and  Labor. 

A department  that  has  called  out  profound  study  and  most 
thoughtful  effort.  Its  leaders  Lave  been  exceptionally  able 
women  whose  conduct  of  a difficult  and  arduous  task  has  con- 
duced to  a better  understanding  of  many  public  questions. 
Mrs.  Emma  Pow  Smith  was  the  first  Superintendent  in  1889, 
Mrs.  Lewellyn  Haskell  followed  in  1894,  Mrs.  J.  Clifford  in 
1895,  Mrs.  Mae  M.  Whitman  in  1897,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Marcen  since 
1906. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ross  Miller  was  “Department  Lecturer”  in 
1901  and  1902,  and  Mrs.  Bridelle  C.  H.  Washburn  since  1909. 

Mrs.  Mae  M.  Whitman,  now  the  National  Superintendent, 
has  splendidly  equipped  this  department  with  a comprehen- 
sive line  of  literature. 


130 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Law  Enforcement. 

This  department  was  created  in  1889  with  the  enforcement 
of  the  mile-limit  law  at  the  State  University  as  its  special  ob- 
ject, and  has  since  found  numerous  other  laws  demanding  its 
aid.  Superintendents  have  been;  1889,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Weed; 
1892,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Gates;  1893,  Mrs.  Rose  M.  French.  It  was 
merged  with  Legislation  in  1906. 

Work  Among  Indians. 

This  department  grew  out  of  the  work  reported  in  1889,  and 
has  been  carried  successively  by  Mrs.  L.  P.  Williams,  Mrs.  E. 
M.  Priddy,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Chamberlain,  Miss  Ella  Brown  and 
Miss  Ada  Campbell,  until  1905  when  it  was  taken  by  the  Nat- 
ional Superintendent,  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer.  An  indirect  help 
to  the  Indian  people  has  resulted  from  the  better  knowledge 
of  their  condition  by  whites. 

Medal  Contests. 

This  department  was  adopted  in  1891.  Mrs.  J.  D.  Jamison 
was  the  first  Superintendent,  succeeded  in  1892  by  Miss  Mary 
Helen  McLean;  in  1903  by  Mrs.  S.  E.  Ayres;  in  1905  by  Miss 
Anna  Chase;  in  1906  by  Mrs.  N.  A.  Rowell;  in  1911  by  Mrs. 
B.  Minges;  in  1912  by  Miss  Luella  Schwab. 

This  department  gives  a concrete  demonstration  by  actual 
figures  of  what  it  is  doing,  finely  illustrating  all  department 
work,  woven  together  systematically  by  means  of  local,  state, 
and  national  superintendents.  Six  recitations  of  temperance 
selections  are  required  for  a “Silver  Medal  Contest,”  and  six 
contests  must  have  been  held  to  make  a “Gold  Medal  Contest” 
possible ; six  gold  medals  must  have  been  won  for  a “Grand 
Gold  Medal  Contest,”  and  six  grand  gold  medals  for  a “Dia- 
mond Contest”  to  be  held.  It  takes  but  little  arithmetic  to 
show  that  1296  recitations  are  required  before  a Diamond 
Contest  can  be  held,  and  for  a “Grand  Diamond  Contest” 
7776.  Allowing  for  the  occasional  incomplete  number  that 
must  sometimes  occur,  for  which  special  arrangements  must 
be  made,  to  be  eligible  for  medals,  it  may  safely  be  said  that  a 
Grand  Diamond  Contest  tells  of  the  faithful  work  requisite  to 
prepare  over  7000  recitations,  not  by  that  number  of  indivi- 
duals, for  all  must  have  contested  many  times  to  win  their 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  131 


respective  honors,  medals,  and  the  invaluable  course  of  mental 
and  moral  training  involved. 

This  is  an  incontrovertible  testimony  to  the  work  of  one  de- 
partment, the  nature  of  which  makes  this  evidence  clear,  but 
the  systematic  work  of  each  department  weaves  itself  into  the 
life  and  movements  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  just  as  thoroughly,  and 
this  explains  its  impression  on  public  sentiment  and  moral 
issues. 

Work  Among  Railroad  Employes. 

This  is  another  evangelistic  work  reaching  thousands  of 
men,  whose  special  labor  makes  them  a distinct  class.  Mrs. 
Rose  M.  French  was  the  first  Superintendent  in  1891,  with  the 
street  car  men  of  the  cities  as  the  first  consideration.  In  1892 
Mrs.  M.  E.  Jenks  of  Sacramento  took  up  the  work,  and  has 
been  instant  in  season  and  out,  never  failing  to  bring  the  best 
available  speakers  before  the  men  of  the  great  railroad  shops, 
often  at  the  noon  hour,  and  through  her  county  and  local  su- 
perintendents, reaching  farther  than  can  be  calculated. 

Flower  Mission. 

This  department,  dating  from  1891  has  been  a ministry  of 
sympathy  and  tenderness,  lending  itself  to  the  purposes  of 
those  who  seek  out  lonely  and  shut-in  sufferers ; to  sick  rooms 
and  hospitals ; to  the  bereaved  and  sorrowing ; or  to  regiments 
of  men  going  out  to  military  service,  bringing  them  the  last 
touch  of  home  and  native  land ; or  to  the  poor  who  need  food 
or  shelter;  for  all  these  interests  have  crept  into  the  Flower 
Mission,  and  it  has  become  a sweet  charity  as  well  as  a solac- 
ing grace.  Mesdames  Florence  Chick,  M.  E.  Tyron,  Maria  A. 
Crowley,  N.  J.  Croake,  and  Misses  Retta  Dillas,  and  Mary 
Dickson  each  filled  terms  of  generally  one  year  until  1900 
when  Mrs.  Ella  S.  Pringle  came  to  the  office,  serving  until 
1906,  since  when  Mrs.  E.  O.  Macomber  has  taken  charge. 

Purity  in  Literature  and  Art. 

Mrs.  Margaret  B.  Pelton,  the  first  Superintendent  in  1901, 
still  holds  the  same  position ; a woman  of  fine  literary  taste, 
who  has  with  her  own  ready  pen,  wrought  well  in  this  import- 
ant line,  besides  her  work  through  county  and  local  unions. 
She  has  been  a frequent  contributor  to  various  publications, 
always  with  tact  and  grace  that  enforces  the  principle  for 


132 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


which  she  labors,  to  purify  the  press,  and  suppress  matter  that 
is  vile,  and  art  that  is  spurious. 

The  World’s  W.  C.  T.  U. 

Was  temporarily  made  a department  in  1892,  while  Mrs.  D.  S. 
Dickson  with  her  broad  vision  and  ardent  enthusiasm  could 
serve  as  Superintendent,  enlisting  the  interest  of  others,  as  she 
did  in  the  world  wide  mission  of  the  White  Ribbon. 

Work  Among  Miners. 

Another  evangelistic  effort  for  a special  class  of  men,  which, 
while  having  done  excellent  work,  has  had  but  a limited  suc- 
cess, conducted  from  1893  to  1902  by  Mesdames  Mary  Frost, 
M.  Monroe,  M.  A.  Croley,  and  J.  C.  Ford. 

Peace  and  Arbitration. 

This  was  made  a department  in  1899,  Mrs.  Maria  Freeman 
Gray,  the  present  incumbent  as  the  first  Superintendent, 
an  able,  enthusiastic,  and  scholarly  woman,  who  with  absolute 
singleness  of  purpose,  has  labored  earnestly  to  spread  the 
knowledge  and  instill  the  principles  of  her  department;  a pains- 
taking Superintendent  unsparing  of  herself  in  the  detail  work 
of  keeping  county  and  local  workers  up  with  the  rapidly  pro- 
gressing movements  of  the  time.  Mrs.  Gray  is  well  known  in 
the  meetings  of  the  American  Peace  Association  and  is  a Vice- 
President  of  the  international  society  known  as  the  “Alliance 
Universelle  des  Femmes  pour  la  Paix,”  discharging  the  duties 
of  that  office  by  correspondence  in  French. 

School  Savings  Banks. 

This  work  was  begun  in  1899,  Mrs.  R.  A.  Emmons  was  the 
first  Superintendent,  followed  in  1900  by  Mrs.  Jennie  L. 
Southworth,  in  1902  by  Mrs.  Franc  Lee,  Miss  Sabra  Finch 
took  it  in  1904,  and  excepting  one  year  when  Mrs.  G.  W.  Ryan 
served,  has  carried  the  work  eA^er  since.  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer, 
then  Associate  Superintendent  of  School  Savings  Banks  in  the 
National,  was  Department  Lecturer  from  1903  to  1909.  Much 
seed  sowing  was  done  in  those  earlier  years,  until  like  several 
other  departments  it  popularized  itself  as  the  public  came  to 
know  more  of  its  merits.  Women’s  Clubs  have  taken  up  the 
work  that  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  alone  advocated  for  years,  and  by 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  133 


this  time  the  large  cities  and  many  smaller  towns  are  using 
this  system  of  thrift  teaching. 

Hospital  and  Almshouse. 

This  was  adopted  in  1894  with  Mrs.  A.  J.  Hart,  Superintend- 
ent, and  lapsed  at  her  death  in  1896.  In  1898  Mrs.  Clara  Starr 
Wood  was  made  Superintendent  and  through  the  county 
superintendents,  did  a good  work.  When  she  resigned  in  1904 
it  was  merged  with  Prison  Work,  being  considered  a correlated 
interest. 

Physical  Education. 

Was  adopted  the  same  year,  1895,  but  on  the  removal  of  the 
Superintendent,  Mrs.  Lilian  Shuey,  lapsed  the  next  year,  and 
only  in  1910  Mrs.  Rebecca  B,  Painton  brought  zeal  and  knowl- 
edge to  the  department  and  at  once  made  its  importance  felt. 

Mercy. 

This  department,  adopted  in  1895,  has  been  fortunate  in 
Superintendents  who  stay  with  it.  The  first,  Mrs.  Olive  E. 
Gifford,  gave  eight  years  of  patient,  loving  service,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Cartwright  in  1903,  who  still  de- 
votes thought,  care  and  labor  to  all  its  demands,  inculcating 
humane  ideas  and  habits  of  kindness. 

Parliamentary  Usage. 

As  the  unions  grew  to  be  more  and  more  deliberative  bodies 
the  necessity  of  systematized  study  on  this  subject  became 
urgent,  and  was  taken  up  in  1902  with  Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet 
as  Superintendent,  succeeded  by  Mrs.  E.  S.  Pringle  in  1906, 
and  Mrs.  Annie  L.  Barry  in  1907.  Mrs.  Pringle  resumed  it  in 
1911,  and  is  now  doing  a work  that  is  developing  the  ability 
of  women  to  conduct  parliamentary  affairs. 

Proportionate  and  Sytematic  Giving. 

This  essential  department  was  adopted  in  1906.  The  first 
Superintendent,  Mrs.  D.  S.  Dickson,  did  faithful  work  ten 
years,  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman  in  1906,  and  Mrs. 
H.  F.  Wakefield  in  1909.  Mrs.  Mae  M.  Whitman  came  to  it 
in  1912  and  is  leading  onward. 

Institutes. 

This  was  taken  up  as  a vital  necessity  in  1904.  The  first 


134 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


superintendent,  Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer,  having  served  many 
years  as  corresponding  secretary,  felt  deeply  the  need  of  these 
training  schools  in  all  the  unions  and  had  asked  to  be  relieved 
of  her  office,  to  enter  upon  this  field  of  labor,  which  she  con- 
ducted until  1909,  when  Mrs.  Addie  Garwood  Estes,  the  pres- 
ent Superintendent,  succeeded  her. 

The  Institute  has  taken  the  place  of  the  old  School  of  Meth- 
ods, but  brings  its  instruction  home  to  the  membership,  while 
the  Congress  of  Reforms  serves  the  purposes  of  a State  Insti- 
tute. The  value  of  this  work  cannot  be  questioned,  and  its 
Superintendent  has  been  annually  awarded  the  Institute  Star 
by  the  National  Superintendent  for  excellent  reports  of  work 
done,  from  the  first  year  to  the  last. 

Gifts  and  Bequests.  < 

This  department  is  more  than  a matter  of  ways  and  means, 
for  it  teaches  the  grace  of  giving.  It  was  adopted  in  1907,  Mrs. 
Helen  M.  Stoddard,  Superintendent.  On  her  removal  from 
the  state  in  1909  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wolfe  took  it,  and  besides 
other  active  work  is  now  bringing  out  special  literature  for  its 
use. 

Rescue. 

This  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  work  for  social  purity.  Mrs. 
Mary  C.  Daswell  was  the  first  Superintendent  in  1907,  and  did 
a blessed  work  for  the  ruined  lives  of  many  outcast  girls,  in  the 
mountain  towns  to  which  she  had  access.  Mrs.  Harriet  Osgood 
came  to  it  in  1911,  and  is  now  carrying  forward  the  same  ef- 
forts and  doing  systematic  work  through  subordinate  helpers. 

Juvenile  Courts,  Industrial  Education,  and  Child  Labor. 

This  is  a natural  offshoot  from  the  Department  of  Labor, 
and  in  its  incipiency  was  embodied  in  that.  Its  growing  im- 
portance made  another  Superintendent  necessary  and  the 
work  was  given  to  Mrs.  E.  B.  Marcen  in  1909,  and  in  1911  to 
Mrs.  Angie  Van  Buskirk. 

Co-Operation  and  Missions. 

This  department  came  into  being  in  1910,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Everts, 
Superintendent,  at  her  decease,  it  was  given  to  Miss  Jennie 
Lind  Redfield  in  1912,  in  whose  hands  it  is  proving  the  actual 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  135 


correlation  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  to  all  missionary  effort,  and 
interesting  mission  workers  in  definite  temperance  work. 

Civics  Centers  and  Friendly  Inns. 

This  is  a “new  edition  revised  and  improved,”  of  the  old  idea 
of  Coffee  Houses  and  Reading  Rooms.  It  recognizes  the  useful 
points  in  the  saloon,  that  have  made  its  toleration  possible, 
for  if  the  saloon  had  not  supplied  some  real  want  of  humanity, 
to  offset  its  evils,  it  could  not  have  lived.  This  department 
has  for  its  object  to  teach  the  need  of  a harmless  substitute  for 
the  saloon.  In  Santa  Clara  County  some  model  road-houses 
have  been  opened  and  others  planned.  It  is  the  province  of  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  to  see  the  vision  of  better  things,  to  make  it 
known,  and  secure  the  co-operation  of  other  organizations  and 
friends  to  carry  out  the  thought.  This  special  interest  makes 
this  appeal  to  all  to  work  together  for  the  common  good,  and 
looks  forward  to  the  time  when  wholesome  public  resorts  will 
be  provided  by  municipalities. 

Curfew  Law  and  Policewomen. 

Curfew  Laws  are  a matter  of  local  legislation  and  have  been 
secured  in  the  larger  communities  generally  by  the  persistent 
efforts  of  women,  led  if  not  altogether  obtained  by  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  under  the  Purity  Department.  The  appointment  of 
Policewomen  was  recognized  as  especially  in  the  lines  of  the 
W.  C.  T.  U.  interests,  so  these  were  combined  and  this  depart- 
ment created  in  1912,  Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman,  Superintendent. 

State  Hospitals. 

This  is  quite  a new  departure,  and  has  been  undertaken  in 
response  to  a feeling  that  a study  of  conditions  in  the  care  of 
patients  in  these  institutions,  and  a proper  psychological 
treatment  might  prevent  the  necessity  of  taking  many  sufferers 
from  nervous  disorders  into  hospitals  for  the  insane,  where 
their  own  conditions  would  be  so  aggravated,  that  inevitably 
they  become  insane. 

To  promote  these  objects  this  department  was  created  in 
1912  with  Mrs.  Lillian  Hough,  Superintendent. 

Personal  Work. 

Numerous  and  diverse  as  the  departments  are,  there  is  much 
good  work  done  that  is  not  reported  under  any  of  them.  The 


136 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


individual  woman  doing  whatever  her  hands  find  to  do,  often 
produces  excellent  results.  Mrs.  Lizzie  Nelson  Fryer  was  one 
of  these.  She  became  a member  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  in  China 
during  Mrs.  Leavitt’s  labors  there.  On  her  return  to  this 
country  with  her  husband,  Prof.  John  Fryer  of  the  University 
of  California,  she  wondered  that  every  Christian  woman  was 
not  a White  Ribboner.  Recognizing  the  splendid  organiza- 
tion as  the  machinery  by  which  latent  powers  might  be 
brought  out  and  put  into  action,  she  entered  at  once  upon  the 
work.  With  a broad  grasp  of  the  subject,  she  served  as  Su- 
perintendent of  Purity  in  1900,  but  retired  from  it  the  follow- 
ing year,  feeling  that  her  special  opportunities  with  the  young 
people  of  the  University,  made  that  her  line  of  duty.  Her  at- 
tractive home  was  always  open  to  every  interest  of  the  union 
and  she  drew  about  her  many  students  to  whom  it  became  a 
social  center,  interesting  them  in  reform  ideas. 

She  organized  “The  Minnehaha  Club”  of  young  men  and 
women  students,  with  the  same  objects  as  the  Young  People’s 
Branch  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  They  held  their  meetings  at  her 
home  and  constituted  a most  wholesome  element  of  college 
life.  After  her  death,  the  Club  dwindled.  As  its  members 
graduated  from  college,  others  did  not  take  their  places,  until 
in  1910  the  remaining  remnant  brought  together  other  stud- 
ents and  it  became  “The  Temperance  Research  Club”  of  men 
only.  This  is  affiliated  with  the  “Inter-Collegiate  Prohibition 
Association”  and  holds  regular  study  classes  every  year,  fifty 
members  were  enrolled  last  year,  Mr.  G.  H.  DeKay  being  their 
instructor.  Mrs.  Mary  Case  Lord  had  a similar  class  of  young 
women.  Largely  through  the  influence  of  this  club  an  im- 
portant educational  advance  has  been  made. 

The  University  has  instituted  a Scientific  Investigation  of 
the  Liquor  Problem,  consisting  of  a course  of  fourteen  lectures 
by  able  men,  covering  all  aspects  of  the  question.  It  is  an 
optional  course  and  credits  will  be  given  to  students  taking  it. 

Official  Reporter. 

This  was  originally  an  arrangement  of  the  “Union-Signal” 
to  secure  reports  of  the  work  in  this  state  for  its  columns. 
Not  having  been  provided  by  the  state,  there  is  no  early  record 
concerning  it.  Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Eyster,  Mrs.  Charlton  Edholm 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  137 


and  Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer  served  successively  in  this  ca- 
pacity. When  the  “Union  Signal”  suffered  a financial  stress, 
Mrs.  Spencer  voluntarily  relinquished  the  compensation  there- 
tofore given,  and  made  her  letters  a gift  to  the  official  organ. 
Since  then  gratuitous  reports  have  become  the  rule  of  the 
paper,  and  the  state  makes  the  appointment.  Mrs.  Spencer 
continued  to  1898.  Mrs.  Clare  O.  Southard  followed  to  1900, 
when  Mrs.  Spencer’s  name  is  again  listed.  She  still  serves  as 
“Special  Correspondent.” 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


ORGANIZATION. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Congdon  is  the  only  organizer  mentioned  in 
the  records  of  the  first  four  years.  She  was  a woman  of  re- 
sources and  initiative,  acting  on  original  plans  that  must  have 
developed  as  exigencies  arose. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  visit  of  Miss  Willard  and  Miss  Gordon 
in  1883,  there  had  been  no  help  from  the  East.  That  visit  was 
inspirational  and  suggestive.  Many  unions  were  organized  by 
Miss  Willard,  others  came  up  spontaneously. 

Mrs.  J.  Ellen  Foster  came  in  1884  but  in  her  brief  stay  could 
only  reach  the  larger  towns.  Her  magnetic  eloquence  at- 
tracted immense  audiences  and  added  many  members. 

Mrs.  Mary  Clement  Leavitt  came  next,  and  began  organiz- 
ing, but  her  health  failing,  her  task  was  finished  by  a visitor, 
Mrs.  Hobart  of  Minnesota. 

Mrs.  Henrietta  Skelton  had  come  into  prominence  in  the 
East  and  had  been  appointed  Superintendent  of  “Work 
Among  Germans”  by  the  National.  Her  only  son  was  wast- 
ing with  consumption,  and  for  his  sake  she  sought  the  genial 
climate  of  California,  and  came  with  him  to  Los  Angeles, 
where  he  died  not  long  after.  Mrs.  Skelton  then  came  north 
looking  for  her  country  people  to  whom  she  was  commis- 
sioned, and  soon  found  work  for  herself.  “No  pent-up  Utica 
confined  her  powers.”  Her  alert  mind  always  saw  something 
to  do,  and  could  always  find  a way  to  do  it.  Without  appoint- 
ment as  an  organizer,  she  organized  the  first  county  union. 
Contra  Costa,  as  well  as  many  local  and  other  county  unions. 

In  the  same  year,  1885,  a National  Organizer,  Miss  Henri- 
etta Moore,  was  sent  out  and  did  excellent  work. 

In  1886  the  first  state  organizer,  Mrs.  D.  J.  Spencer,  was  offi- 
cially appointed.  Public  work  was  new  to  her  and  timidly 
undertaken,  but  the  fact  of  having  lived  many  years  in  the 
shifting  population  of  the  mines,  opened  the  way,  for  every- 
where there  was  someone  who  had  lived  in  her  home  town  to 
welcome  her.  Her  first  winter  was  spent  at  the  Legislature 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  139 


in  the  interest  of  the  “Temperance  Education  Bill,”  giving 
her  experience  and  prestige  for  the  field  work.  Her  note  book 
tells  that  in  her  three  years’  service  she  spoke  from  the  pulpits 
of  fifteen  denominations ; an  evidence  of  the  heterogenous 
character  of  western  people. 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Carver  was  made  an  organizer  for  1888  with  spe- 
cial reference  to  the  needs  of  San  Francisco. 

Mrs.  Skelton  returned  in  1891  and  was  then  officially  ap- 
pointed, serving  until  her  fatal  illness  in  1899,  except  in  the 
intervals  when  laboring  in  other  states  under  National  aus- 
pices. 

Mrs.  Emma  Pow  Smith,  whose  life  as  a city  missionary  in 
San  Francisco,  had  been  a rare  training,  was  also  appointed 
in  1891,  and  for  two  years  did  valuable  and  strenuous  work 
in  the  field.  Her  health  failed  temporarily,  and  while  laid 
aside,  she  prepared  for  the  ministry,  and  was  in  due  time  or- 
dained, and  took  the  pastorate  of  a church.  She  is  now  known 
as  Mrs.  Bauder,  having  married  Rev.  T.  J.  Bauder,  since  de- 
ceased. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  utmost  bounds  of  the  state  were 
never  so  nearly  reached  as  while  Mrs.  Skelton  and  Mrs.  Smith 
were  both  in  the  field.  They  were  equally  undaunted,  and  re- 
sourceful, reaching  communities  great  and  small,  making  their 
way  about  regardless  of  schedules,  for  railroad  facilities  were 
few  then,  and  stages  alarmingly  expensive.  They  made  their 
own  routes  as  they  went  on,  always  reporting  promptly  and 
often  to  Headquarters,  the  marvellous  amount  of  work  done, 
new  unions  and  members  gained. 

Mrs.  Skelton  continuing  so  long  in  service  has  left  all 
over  the  State  deep  impressions  of  her  strong  individuality 
and  devotion  to  the  cause.  Once  in  the  hot  valleys  of  the 
interior  she  was  overtaken  by  a wasting  fever,  and  tenderly 
nursed  by  the  local  union  until  able  to  be  sent  to  the  cooler 
region  of  the  coast.  Once  she  had  an  accident  by  which 
some  bones  were  broken  and  others  displaced ; again  the  kind 
hands  of  faithful  friends  ministered  to  her  need  until  she 
was  able  to  walk  on  crutches.  For  three  years,  with  sublimity 
of  courage,  she  went  about  supported  by  a crutch,  until 
obliged  to  submit  to  another  surgical  operation.  Not  even 


140 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


under  these  conditions  did  she  cease  to  plan  and  write  for 
the  beloved  cause. 

Miss  I.  C.  DeVelling,  who  had  been  long  in  the  same  work 
in  the  East,  was  a State  organizer  in  1898  and  1899,  and  had 
her  share  of  tilling  the  waste  places  and  also  brought  in  her 
sheaves.  The  allurements  of  home  and  rest  led  her  to  retire. 
She  is  now  with  relatives  in  New  York. 

Mrs.  S.  M.  M.  Woodman  and  Mrs.  E.  G.  Greene  were  also 
organizers  in  1898  and  1899,  doing  good  work  but  in  less  ex- 
tensive fields. 

Mrs.  L.  F.  King  received  her  appointment  in  1898,  and 
served  to  1907,  since  when  she  has  resided  in  Southern  Cali- 
fornia. She  was  another  who  traversed  the  highways  and 
byways,  entering  all  doors  of  service,  speaking  in  pulpits,  or 
canvassing  from  house  to  house  with  equal  readiness.  In 
her  quiet  motherly  way  she  would  call  on  families,  and  where 
nothing  else  could  be  done,  interest  the  children  and  start  a 
Medal  Contest,  going  on  to  another  town,  perhaps  doing  the 
same  thing,  and  later  returning  to  hold  the  contests  and  plant 
a union  if  there  were  none  there  before.  She  is  the  only  or- 
ganizer the  State  Union  has  ever  been  able  to  send  through 
the  far  northeastern  counties,  Modoc  and  Lassen,  involving 
tedious  mountain  journeys  unrelieved  by  railroads  or  auto- 
mobiles to  which  those  regions  are  only  now  being  opened. 
Such  heroic  labor  deserves  the  monument  of  lives  made  bet- 
ter by  its  consecrated  devotion.  Mrs.  King  was  county  presi- 
dent successively  of  Fresno  and  Contra  Costa. 

Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Dorr  was  an  organizer  in  1900.  Rev.  Mrs. 
Bridelle  C.  H.  Washburn,  a National  Organizer,  has  served 
the  State  since  1901.  Mrs.  Mae  Guthrie  Tongier,  a gifted 
speaker  from  Southern  California  served  the  year  1904.  Mrs. 
Mary  Fletcher  Norwood,  in  1905,  and  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Borden 
since  1909.  Mrs.  Anna  M.  DeYo,  former  president  of  Fresno 
county,  took  up  the  pilgrim’s  staff  as  a state  organizer  in 
1912,  and  happily  has  traveling  facilities  that  her  early  pre- 
decessors lacked. 

Lecturers. 

Mrs.  E.  P.  Stevens  in  1888,  Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Eyster,  1891  to 
1898,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ross  Miller,  1907  to  1911;  Mrs.  Sturte- 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  141 


vant-Peet,  1908-1909;  Mrs.  A.  C.  Bainbridge,  1909;  Mrs.  S. 
M.  M.  Woodman,  1909-1911. 

Evangelists. 

Miss  I.  C.  DeVelling,  1895;  Mrs.  E.  G.  Greene,  1896-1900; 
Mrs.  L.  M.  Thomson,  1897-1902 ; Mrs.  J.  L.  Everts,  1909.  To 
Chinese,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Barrett;  to  Japanese,  Mrs.  Mary  Bowen. 

Field  Secretary. 

Field  Secretary,  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Norwood,  1907 ; Mrs.  A.  C. 
Bainbridge,  1909. 

Pioneer  Work  in  Lassen  County. 

From  a personal  letter. 

“I  came  to  California  with  m}'^  parents  in  1862,  and  settled 
in  Lassen  County,  then  a wild  frontier  claimed  by  both  Ne- 
vada and  California,  and  between  the  two  we  were  left  prin- 
cipally to  our  own  devices.  I was  fifteen  years  old.  I taught 
school  that  winter  and  talked  temperance  to  my  pupils.  I 
had  boys  in  my  school  older  than  myself,  who  drank  and 
gambled.  The  trustees  expostulated  with  me  but  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  I was  a harmless  fanatic,  and  as  I could 
not  be  suppressed  would  have  to  be  tolerated.  I taught  five 
years,  and  temperance  continued  to  be  a part  of  the  curri- 
culum. 

“My  husband  was  a strong  temperance  man.  He  had  been 
in  Lassen  County  two  years  before  I came,  when  to  refuse 
to  drink  with  a man  was  a personal  affront;  he  politely  de- 
clined many  invitations  until  at  last  he  was  told  that  he  had 
to  drink.  He  was  siezed  at  once  by  all  who  could  get  hold 
of  him,  and  pushed  to  the  bar.  They  got  ready  to  pour  the 
liquor  into  him,  when  he  said,  ‘Gentlemen,  I give  you  fair 
warning  that  as  soon  as  I am  at  liberty  I shall  shoot  the 
men  who  pour  liquor  down  my  throat.’  He  was  released 
and  never  molested  again.  I doubt  if  any  other  man  not  a 
professional  ever  gave  as  many  temperance  lectures  as  he 
did.  We  both  talked  temperance  and  equal  suffrage  in  season 
and  out,  though  we  never  recognized  any  out  season.  We 
both  belonged  to  the  Good  Templars,  and  when  the  Crusade 
began  I caught  the  inspiration,  and  redoubled  my  efforts,  for 
I thought  the  end  was  near,  and  I wanted  to  be  ‘in  at  the 


142 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


death’ — and  still  there  is  work  to  do.  I joined  the  W.  C.  T. 
U.  of  Nevada  in  the  early  80s  and  soon  organized  a union  in 
Susanville,  auxiliary  to  Nevada,  but  not  alone,  for  we  had 
fifty  members. 

“In  1896  Mrs.  Henrietta  Skelton  came  and  staid  six  weeks 
with  me.  She  organized  the  county  auxiliary  to  the  Cali- 
fornia Union.  I was  always  the  whole  suffrage  committee 
in  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  it  was  tolerated  on  my  account,  and  for 
years  I gave  most  of  my  time  to  Franchise  work.  I stood 
alone.  Many  women  agreed  with  me  privately  but  could 
not  stand  for  the  ridicule.  I do  not  blame  them.  Even 
when  our  first  amendment  was  submitted  most  of  our  men 
thought  it  a huge  joke,  but  the  women  came  to  the  front 
nobly  and  the  men  saw  that  I was  not  the  only  woman  who 
felt  aggrieved.  I feel  that  my  part  in  the  great  movement 
for  temperance  has  been  of  but  small  importance,  but  I have 
done  all  that  I could. 

“Those  who  live  in  ‘the  center’  of  things  cannot  realize  the 
isolation  of  this  county.  The  nearest  railroad  eastward  in 
Nevada,  and  two  great  mountain  ranges  between  us,  and 
our  own  state  proper.  Speakers  could  not  come  to  us  and 
we  had  to  work  out  our  own  salvation.  My  husband’s  loyal 
support  and  assistance  more  than  doubled  my  efforts.  With- 
out the  work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.,  Equal  Suffrage  would  still 
be  a dream  of  the  future  in  California.  To  it  more  than  to 
any  other  organization  belongs  the  glory  of  our  recent  victory. 
It  educated  and  organized  women. 

“PHILINDA  M.  SPENCER.” 

The  above  letter  is  a reflection  of  conditions  in  remote 
counties,  so  true  to  life,  and  so  typical  of  others  that  it  can- 
not be  withheld.  The  unions  in  Lassen  have  died  because 
so  inaccessible,  and  the  whole  county  is  still  unorganized. 
Heroic  souls  like  Mrs.  Spencer  have  kept  the  light  burning. 
Her  husband,  Hon.  E.  V.  Spencer,  was  a tower  of  strength 
to  every  moral  interest.  He  represented  his  county  in  the 
state  senate  for  some  years,  and  was  the  best  friend  of  equal 
suffrage  in  that  body  in  the  campaign  of  1896.  Mrs.  Spencer 
is  a fine  type  of  isolated  women  throughout  the  state  A'.dio, 
as  she  says,  have  each  done  “all  she  could.”  Her  community 
of  interest  with  her  noble  husband  made  her  a law  student. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  143 


and  now  that  women  vote  and  need  the  help  she  can  give 
she  is  heard  of  by  her  able  lectures  on  “Law”  to  women’s 
clubs.  It  seems  good  that  such  as  she  may  see  the  fruit  of 
their  labors.  She  was  in  the  great  suffrage  demonstration  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Reminiscences  of  an  Organizer. 

The  writer  had  thought  to  gather  some  incidents  from  the 
labors  of  early  organizers  illustrating  the  conditions  under 
which  the  pioneering  was  done,  but  finds  herself  unable  to 
draw  from  any  experience  but  her  own.  She  begs  it  to  be 
understood  that  the  stories  given  are  not  beyond  the  exper- 
ience of  others,  and  similar  incidents  were  common  to  all, 
at  that  time.  The  organizers  worked  hard,  but  not  one,  was 
ever  known  to  be  conscious  of  a hardship.  The  delightful 
welcome,  and  helpful  sympathy  of  the  homes  in  which  they 
were  entertained  obliterated  the  rembrances  of  inconven- 
ience or  weariness,  and  the  sense  of  acceptable  service  to  a 
great  cause  sustained  them.  County  organization  had  not 
proceeded  enough  to  aid  materially  in  making  routes  or  fixing 
dates.  Often  the  organizer  must  do  both,  almost  without 
chart  or  compass. 

Once  a good  man  essayed  to  plan  a route  through  a moun- 
tain county,  assuring  the  lady  that  he  would  arrange  for 
dates,  entertainment,  transportation,  advance  advertising,  and 
everything.  Just  meet  him  there,  that  was  all.  She  did,  and 

he  had  forgotten,  but  said  “You  just  take  the  stage  to  S , 

go  to  Mr.  K , he  is  reliable,  he’ll  fix  everything.”  She 

went  and  found  the  guests  arriving  for  the  reliable  man’s 
wedding.  She  betook  herself  to  the  only  public  house,  and 
almost  melted  in  the  fervent  heat  of  that  dreadful  day.  She 
had  an  appointment  the  next  night  ten  miles  away,  and  no 
way  at  all  to  get  there.  An  itinerant  book  agent  came  to  her 
aid.  He  had  a horse  and  cart,  lent  out  for  the  day,  to  be  re- 
turned at  six  o’clock.  “The  very  thing,”  he  said,  “it  will  be 
cooler  then,  and  there’s  a full  moon,  I know  the  way,  and 
will  take  you  right  there.”  Nothing  could  be  better.  After 
horse  and  man  had  been  fed  and  rested,  the  journey  began. 
It  was  a courtesy  of  the  region  to  call  a trail,  a road,  but  in 
the  deep  shadows  of  precipitous  and  heavily  timbered  moun- 


144 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


tains,  all  the  light  of  the  moon  could  not  keep  a trail  in  sight. 
Within  an  hour  they  were  lost.  The  serene  stillness  of  the 
night,  in  the  woods,  unbroken  by  the  slightest  sound  of  animal 
life,  was  wonderful  to  one  who  had  never  felt  it  before.  Up 
and  down  the  steepest  hills  the  jaded  beast  went  on,  the 
poor  man  in  pity  walking  by  its  head.  Nothing  would  induce 
him  to  permit  the  lady  to  alight  or  the  horse  to  stop.  While 
he  bemoaned  his  luck  in  real  distress,  she  was  amused  by 
the  absurdity  of  the  situation.  When  weary  with  walking 
he  would  sit  awhile  in  the  cart,  but  try  to  keep  the  horse 
going.  Once  he  said,  “Can  you  sing?”  “A  little,”  she  re- 
plied, and  sang  a hymn  in  which  he  joined  with  a rich  bari- 
tone that  with  her  piping  treble  woke  strange  echoes  among 
the  rocks.  At  intervals  this  was  repeated,  and  in  the  small 
hours  the  distant  bark  of  a dog  was  heard.  This  was  followed 
with  difficulty  to  the  solitary  cabin  of  a Swiss  hermit.  He 
could  speak  no  English,  but  kindly  led  the  horse  far  down 
the  dry  bed  of  a winter  torrent  to  a road,  and  started  him  in 
the  wrong  direction.  The  dawning  day  revealed  the  mistake, 
the  weary  horse  was  turned  about,  and  at  eight  o’clock  reached 
the  destination,  where  breakfast,  bath  and  bed  awaited  the 
traveller.  The  book  agent  disappeared,  and  not  for  long 
after,  did  his  passenger  learn  that  two  California  lions  had 
been  seen  in  those  hills  within  a day  or  two.  That  accounted 
for  his  distressing  anxiety,  and  the  songs  were  to  frighten 
wild  beasts.  , 

The  evening  appointment  was  filled.  The  local  saloon  had 
an  amusement  hall  across  the  road,  to  which  a few  people 
came.  The  saloon-keeper  swept,  garnished,  and  lit  up  the 
place,  served  as  usher,  took  up  the  collection, — the  best  on 
the  route, — and  while  the  speaker  awaited  outside  for  her 
escort  and  his  buggy,  heard  the  squeak  of  a violin,  and  knew 
then,  that  her  meeting,  like  everything  else  that  brought 
people  together  there,  had  been  the  signal  for  the  dance  that 
was  beginning. 

She  had  once  before  been  lost  on  a dark  and  foggy  autumn 
night,  when  a young  man  whose  best  girl  lived  at  the  place 
where  she  was  due  to  speak,  had  offered  to  take  her  there 
in  a buggy.  This  was  on  what  was  then  known  as  “hog- 
wallow”  land,  from  its  peculiar  roughness.  There  being  nei- 


SUPERINTENDENTS  OE  DEPARTMENTS 


MISS  MARY  HELEN  McLEAN 
Medal 


MRS.  N.  A.  ROWELL 

Contests 


MRS.  BIRDIE  MINGES 
Medal  Contests 


MRS.  L.  O.  MACOMBER 
Flower  Mission 


SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  DEPARTMENTS 


MRS.  S.  RENOWDEN  BAILEY 
Song 


:MRS.  REBECCA  B.  PAIXTON 
Physical  Education 


MRS.  MARY  I.  MALLORY 
Anti-Narcotics 


MRS.  C.  S.  BANKS 
Foreign 


SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  DEPARTMENTS 


MRS.  B.  LUELLA  CURTIS 
Puz-ity 


MRS.  EMMA  P.  LONG 
Lumbermen 


MRS.  CHRISTINE  ARMSTRONG 
Sabbath  Observance 


MRS.  H.  F.  WAKEFIELD- 
Systematic  Giving 


MRS.  ().  .1.  WARD  MTi.  JAMES  WARD 

Sn|)('rliiU'n(len( 

Hoalth  iind  llereilily 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  145 


ther  roads  nor  fences,  the  horses  circled  around,  bumping 
over  the  uneven  plain,  but  reached  the  appointed  place,  as 
the  gathered  audience,  after  spending  the  evening  singing, 
were  about  to  adjourn.  However,  they  stayed  and  a union  was 
organized.  It  being  then  late,  the  nearest  neighbor  took  the 
speaker  home.  As  might  be  supposed,  she  was  tired  and 
nothing  less  than  what  happened,  could  have  disturbed  her. 
During  the  night  the  dogs  chased  a skunk  under  the  house, 
and  the  terrified  creature  was  caught  just  under  the  floor  of 
her  room  with  the  dogs  barking  on  both  sides.  Her  next  date 
was  out  of  the  question, — because  there  was  a “rabbit  drive.” 
The  entire  population  of  the  region  for  miles  around  was  on 
the  road  to  Pixley,  next  morning;  the  country  was  deserted. 
All  she  could  do  was  to  avail  herself  of  a kindly  offer  to  reach 
the  railroad  by  joining  the  moving  throng.  While  waiting 
some  hours  for  a train,  she  saw  the  drive.  The  marvellously 
vivid  description  of  a “rabbit  drive”  given  by  Frank  Norris 
in  his  story  “The  Octopus,”  might  have  been  written  of  this 
identical  scene.  Dr.  Chapman  has  made  good  use  of  the 
“rabbit  drive”  in  his  remarkable  little  book  “Particeps  Crim- 
inis”  to  illustrate  the  relation  of  the  public  to  the  liquor 
traffic. 

She  tells  of  another  trip,  where  stages  went  through  but 
once  a week,  and  to  make  connections  she  must  take  the 
chances  of  a wagon  going  up  the  road.  A kind  farmer  had 
taken  her  to  the  next  place,  after  leaving  the  stage,  where  she 
expected  to  address  the  men  of  a tan  bark  camp,  but  found 
instead  an  audience  of  adolescent  youth,  out  for  fun  only,  but 
they  were  attentive.  She  waited  long  next  day  for  a passing 
team  and  was  at  the  roadside  when  one  appeared.  Having 
been  told  that  the  charge  would  be  one  dollar  and  a half,  she 
asked,  money  in  hand,  for  passage.  The  teamster  replied 
gruffly,  “I  takes  no  passengers,  only  freight.”  “How  much 
for  freight?”  she  inquired.  “A  dollar  and  a half  a hundred,” 
he  growled.  “All  right,”  she  said,  “I  weigh  just  one  hundred 
pounds,”  laid  down  her  money,  and  mounted  the  high  seat 
of  a lumber-wagon  for  a fifty  miles  drive.  The  night  was  spent 
at  a mountain  roadhouse  kept  by  a wornout  teacher  seeking 
health  in  the  hills.  The  good  woman  supplied  a fine  lunch 
for  mid-day,  and  at  4 o’clock  the  teamster  left  his  freight  at 


146 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


a camp  meeting,  where  a group  of  Christian  workers  had  gone 
to  hold  such  services  for  the  sheep-herders  who  were  tending 
their  flocks  in  these  high  summer  pastures.  To  help  as  best 
she  could  a few  days  at  this  meeting  was  a new  experience. 

Once  she  was  taken  by  a skillful  Indian  driver,  to  a little 
nook  hidden  away  behind  a mountain,  where  there  was  a 
district  school  and  a few  families,  to  hold  an  afternoon  and 
evening  meeting.  At  the  latter  a union  was  organized,  and 
they  wanted  another  meeting,  inviting  her  to  stay  all  night 
and  go  back  to  town  with  a passing  team  next  day.  The 
Indian  said  he  “wished  she  would,  for  the  night  was  dark, 
the  dug-out  road  was  bad,  and  one  of  his  mules  had  never 
had  a harness  on  before.”  That  settled  it.  She  stayed.  Her 
hostess  was  a cultured  and  refined  woman,  past  middle  age, 
who  supported  herself  and  her  crippled  husband  by  raising 
pop-corn,  sending  it  to  town,  shelled,  by  some  one  going 
by  who  would  exchange  it  for  necessary  commodities.  In  the 
joy  of  Christian  fellowship  she  had  forgotten  her  poverty, 
and  the  lack  in  her  house  of  the  simplest  conveniences  of 
life.  She  was  assured  that  organizers  were  prepared  for  any 
emergency.  So  the  guest  wrapped  herself  in  a roller  towel 
that  night,  brushed  her  hair  with  a wisp  broom,  before  a 
triangular  fraction  of  looking  glass  in  the  morning,  and  felt 
that  she  had  been  entertained  by  the  King’s  own  daughter, 
for  never  had  she  met  a higher  spiritual  grace,  than  in  that 
brave,  true  woman.  At  nine  o’clock  six  young  women  came 
for  a mothers’  meeting,  and  the  eagerness  of  their  hungry 
souls  made  her  grateful  for  the  opportunity  of  ministering  to 
their  need. 

Perhaps  the  funniest  thing  that  ever  happened  on  her 
travels,  was  once  on  a regularly  made-up  route,  working  to 
schedule,  by  a misunderstanding,  the  lady  who  was  to  en- 
tertain the  speaker  did  not  appear.  She  went  from  the  train 
to  the  parsonage,  sure  of  a welcome  there,  and  after  the  even- 
ing meeting  in  the  church,  a kindly  old  lady  insisted  on  taking 
her  home.  Supposing  this  was  the  one  who  expected  to  en- 
tertain her,  she  went  with  her.  They  entered  a big  comfort- 
able room  which  the  old  lady  informed  her  was  her  home, 
presently  remarking  inquiringly,  “I  suppose  you  won’t  mind 
sleeping  with  me,  there’s  no  other  place.”  The  organizer  was 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  147 


too  tired  to  wince.  In  bed  her  hostess  continued  to  talk,  talk, 
talk.  When  the  sound  was  broken  by  an  expectant  pause, 
the  guest  emitted  a sleepy  assent,  and  the  talk  went  on ; and 
not  until  a tone  of  importance  was  assumed,  and  she  asked 
“Be  you  nervous?”  was  the  visitor  really  awake.  The  old 
lady  was  assured  to  the  contrary,  and  expressed  her  satisfac- 
tion, for,  she  said,  “I’m  subject  to  fits,  I thought  I’d  better 
tell  you,  in  case  I might  have  one.  I ain’t  had  one  lately, 
but  I never  know  when  they’rs  coming,  they  mostly  comes 
nights.”  Suppose  the  stranger  had  been  nervous.  Her  sense 
of  the  ridiculous  dispelled  the  dread  of  fits  and  she  slept 
soundly. 

In  the  morning  the  old  lady  took  her  to  a good  breakfast 
under  the  same  roof,  at  her  son’s  table,  where  the  family  were 
surprised  to  learn  that  “Grandma”  had  entertained  the 
speaker. 

A precious  experience  to  organizers,  is  the  discovery  of 
isolated  workers,  who  have  kept  a light  burning  in  dark 
places,  with  a persistent  fidelity  beyond  praise.  For  years 
there  was  one  White  Ribboner,  a teacher,  in  Mariposa  County. 
Her  annual  subscription  to  the  Ensign  kept  her  in  touch  with 
the  great  movement  of  which  she,  in  her  isolation  was  a part. 

At  a far  away  ranch,  a wedding  was  the  occasion  of  a 
friendly  reunion  unlikely  ever  to  be  possible  again,  and  be- 
fore their  separation,  they  organized  themselves  as  a W.  C. 
T.  U.,  adding  the  White  Ribbon  bond  to  the  tender  ties  of 
home  and  kindred. 

There  is  now  a plan  by  which  isolated  members  may  send 
dues  directly  to  the  state  and  thus  “belong”  to  the  great  sis- 
terhood. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


The  Official  Organ  and  Its  Editors. 

Very  dear  to  the  hearts  of  the  White  Ribboners  of  Cali- 
fornia has  always  been  their  organ.  The  little  “Bulletin” 
first  of  all,  how  they  watched  it  grow ; it  became  “The  Pharos,” 
and  shed  its  light  on  the  whole  way,  like  a lighthouse  as  its 
name  implied,  and  when  it  came  to  be  the  “Ensign”  and 
weekly,  how  they  loved  it.  The  women  have  had  great  pride 
in  the  state  papers,  and  the  utmost  confidence  in  their  editors, 
who  from  first  to  last  form  a brilliant  coterie  of  ability  and 
worth,  and  will  long  be  held  iri  fond  remembrance.  The  first 
editor,  Mrs.  P.  D.  Browne,  pioneered  the  way  successfully 
with  the  “Bulletin”  and  “Pharos.”  The  next,  Mrs.  R.  R. 
Johnston,  edited  the  initial  numbers  of  the  “Ensign”  but 
was  obliged  to  go  East  after  the  first  month.  Mrs.  Ada  Van 
Pelt  filled  the  editorial  chair  six  years  with  great  acceptance. 
She  is  now  living  in  Los  Angeles,  and  has  distinguished  herself 
by  securing  patents  for  a number  of  her  own  inventions,  the 
most  remarkable  of  which  is  an  electrical  device  for  purifying 
water,  invented  since  she  was  seventy  years  of  age.  It  wall 
be  a pleasure  to  her  old-time  friends  to  hear  that  she  has 
received  the  very  unusual  honor  of  being  elected  a member 
of  the  French  Academy  of  Science. 

Next  came  the  winsome  Nellie  Blessing  Eyster,  and  two 
years  her  graceful  pen  and  loving  care  served  the  “Ensign” 
and  its  readers.  She  was  the  first  president  of  the  San  Jose 
union,  was  next,  state  Recording  Secretary,  and  successively 
superintendent  of  four  departments,  editor,  lecturer,  writer 
of  books,  and  the  most  charming  story-teller,  as  thousands  of 
school-boys  in  the  years  when  she  lectured  in  the  schools 
could  testify,  as  well  as  the  smaller  circle  at  Headquarters. 
That  is  a long  record  of  service  and  growing  longer,  for  she 
is  now  on  the  Committee  looking  out  for  the  “World’s  W.  C. 
T.  U.  Exhibit”  at  the  Panama-Pacific  Exposition. 

Mrs.  Mary  Case  Lord  edited  the  “Ensign”  three  years, 
bringing  to  it  a great  soul,  a buoyant  spirit,  and  a whimsical 
wit,  more  telling  than  argument.  She  has  denied  to  these 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  149 


pages  the  picture  of  the  sweet  face  the  reader  would  be  so 
glad  to  see,  but  many  will  recall  her  platform  inspiration,  con- 
tagious enthusiasm,  and  its  helpfulness,  and  in  memory  see  her 
now  as  she  said  “Frances  Willard  made  herself  popular  doing 
unpopular  things ; and  then  made  unpopular  things  popular 
because  she  did  them.”  She  has  a habit  still  of  bringing  out  a 
timely  and  effective  leaflet,  just  at  the  right  time,  and  sure 
to  be  right  to  the  point.  Living  at  Berkeley,  she  has  been 
doing  a valuable  work  in  the  instruction  of  a class  of  young 
women  students  at  the  University,  by  weekly  lessons  in  scien- 
tific temperance,  as  a part  of  their  college  course.  Regular 
text  books  are  used  but  it  may  be  surmised  that  the  best  of 
the  lesson  is  the  teacher. 

Mrs.  Clare  O.  Southard,  whose  name  has  appeared  in  the 
preceding  pages  in  connection  with  many  good  deeds,  became 
editor  in  1902,  and  most  efficiently  filled  the  place  until  earth- 
quake and  fire  destroyed  everything  that  went  to  make  up 
the  “Ensign,”  as  well  as  her  own  lovely  home.  That  she 
cannot  lose  the  elements  that  made  her  a good  editor  is  proved 
by  her  excellent  work  as  Superintendent  of  Press. 

The  disaster  that  seemed  to  shake  the  “Ensign”  out  of  ex- 
istence, left  it  on  the  hands  of  another  able  woman,  Mrs. 
Emily  Hoppin,  whose  experience  of  eighteen  years  as  state 
treasurer,  and  the  full  complement  of  local  and  county  work 
made  her  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  needs  of  the  readers 
of  a state  paper. 

Miss  Severance  whose  special  page  was  the  “Overlook,” 
has  earned  her  laurels,  and  has  the  honor  of  being  identified 
from  the  first  a department  that  finished  its  work,  when 
votes  were  given  to  women. 

It  was  designed  to  have  a pictorial  page,  presenting  por- 
traits of  the  editors  who  have  endeared  themselves  to  the 
White  Ribbon  host  perhaps  with  a more  intimate  sense,  than 
most  others.  Their  faces  have  all  but  one  appeared  in  the 
official  roster,  and  will  be  found  there  identified  with  their 
respective  offices,  but  each  one  is  more  closely  associated  with 
her  readers  by  the  regular  visits  of  the  paper,  than  by  other 
official  relations. 


150 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Headquarters  and  Fountains. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  of  all  the  enterprises  the 
local  unions  have  at  various  times  undertaken.  Coffee  Houses 
and  Reading  Rooms  have  been  too  numerous  to  be  reported, 
and  as  a survival  and  outgrowth  of  this  idea,  it  is  hoped  that 
the  Friendly  Inn  may  lead  on  to  the  public  ownership  of 
wholesome  places  of  resort. 

The  most  ambitious  efforts  of  local  unions  have  been  the 
erection  of  Headquarters.  Those  of  Stockton  and  Boulder 
Creek  have  been  already  mentioned.  Woodland  has  its  own 
home  with  comfortable  parlors  for  meetings  or  for  a resting 
place,  while  part  of  the  building  is  occupied  by  a printing 
office  where  the  “White  Ribbon  Ensign”  and  “The  Home  Al- 
liance” are  printed. 

The  Campbell  union  has  a real  philanthropy  in  its  “Coffee 
Club  and  Rest  Room.”  Located  in  the  heart  of  a fruit  dis- 
trict, many  women  and  girls  are  employed  in  the  exhausting 
labor  of  the  canneries.  To  afford  them  a comfortable  resting 
place  at  the  noon  hour  or  when  relieved  from  toil,  the  union 
for  years  maintained  a room  in  a hired  building.  When  this 
was  no  longer  available,  it  had  been  found  so  useful  and  de- 
sirable that  they  built  a house  for  the  purpose.  As  its  name 
implies,  it  has  facilities  for  refreshments  and  all  necessary 
comforts. 

Elk  Grove  has  a two-story  building  at  present  occupied  as 
a library  and  office. 

At  Sheridan,  in  Placer  County,  a union  once  came  up  by 
spontaneous  combustion,  organized  itself  by  the  fervid  ardor 
of  its  members,  and  was  thriving  before  ever  a public  worker 
had  seen  it.  The  little  town  had  no  place  for  a public  meeting 
and  the  gallant  union  built  a hall  to  supply  the  need,  renting  it 
enough  to  keep  up  its  expenses.  There  is  nothing  more  strik- 
ing to  the  eye  of  the  traveling  White  Ribboner  as  the  trains 
pass  by,  than  that  plain  structure  with  the  big  letters  W.  C. 
T.  U.  on  its  front,  like  a standing  protest  against  the  evils  it 
combats,  and  a witness  to  righteous  endeavor.  Not  one  is  left 
of  those  who  erected  the  house,  but  others  have  filled  their 
places. 

Sacramento  union  once  had  a gift  of  a city  lot  on  Third 
St.  below  K St.,  a location  at  that  time  better  adapted  to  a 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  151 


charitable  work  than  anything  else.  They  put  an  inexpensive 
building  upon  it  in  1895  and  for  eight  years  maintained  a 
“Children’s  Day  Home,”  where  the  children  of  working  moth- 
ers were  taken  care  of  while  the  mothers  were  at  work.  When 
the  Humane  Officers  of  the  city  found  neglected  children  they 
were  taken  temporarily  to  this  Home.  The  property  was 
afterwards  sold  and  $1000  of  the  money  received  was  given 
to  the  “Young  Women’s  Christian  Association”  for  the  per- 
manent use  of  a room  in  their  building  for  local  Headquarters 
and  a meeting  place. 

The  Chico  union  incorporated  some  years  ago  in  order  to 
hold  its  property,  which  now  amounts  in  value  to  several 
thousand  dollars.  By  mutual  arrangement  the  title  to  the 
property  of  several  unions  is  thus  held.  There  are  four  unions 
at  and  near  Chico,  each  holding  its  local  meetings  separately 
but  at  stated  intervals  uniting  in  a federated  body  for  general 
business.  Within  the  last  few  years  the  Chico  union  has 
erected  the  Memorial  Temple  for  its  use;  the  Bidwell  Hall 
on  Kennedy  Avenue  belongs  to  the  “Annie  K.  Bidwell”  union. 
A wonderfully  beautiful  natural  park  at  Chico  Vicino  was  a 
gift  from  Mrs.  Bidwell  to  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

There  is  a mining  camp  in  the  hills  at  Magalia,  where  Mrs. 
Skelton  organized  a little  union.  Its  president  was  Miss  Car- 
rie Brydon,  who  had  come  to  this  out-of-the-world  spot  in 
search  of  health,  and  sadly  missed  the  moral  atmosphere  of 
her  earlier  life.  There  were  saloons  in  plenty,  but  no  other 
place  where  people  might  congregate.  She  proposed  to  have  a 
church,  and  there  being  no  other  religious  organization  at 
Magalia,  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  built  a church  in  1904  and  own  it. 
Sometimes  they  have  regular  services  for  awhile,  more  often 
occasional,  but  there  is  Sunday  School  year  in  and  out.  Re- 
movals and  death  scattered  the  original  members  but  a few 
remain  to  keep  alive  their  principles.  Miss  Brydon’s  object 
has  been  to  make  the  church  a social  center,  accordingly  a 
“Ladies’  Aid  Society”  was  organized  in  1910.  They  meet 
weekly,  sew,  embroider,  make  quilts  and  friends,  and  hold  an 
annual  sale  whose  proceeds  cover  expenses  and  repairs.  A 
kitchen  has  been  added  so  that  the  house  is  equipped  for  gen- 
eral social  purposes  and  is  certainly  promoting  public  welfare. 

None  can  say  where  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  does  its  best  work. 


152 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


but  none  can  be  better  than  in  the  isolated  communities  where 
its  very  motherliness  compels  it  to  assume  responsibilities. 
Through  the  sparsely  settled  section  of  Madera  County,  for  a 
long  time  the  saloons  afforded  the  only  place  of  recreation. 
Every  saloon  had  a hall,  generously  given  for  any  social  pur- 
pose, receiving  its  compensation  from  the  patronage  of  men 
thus  placed  under  obligation.  The  Spring  Valley  union  real- 
ized the  evil  and  determined  on  a remedy  by  substitution.  Be 
ing  unable  alone  to  compass  their  plan,  they  co-operated 
jointly  with  an  Improvement  Club  in  the  erection  of  a Club 
House  in  which  they  have  a pleasant  place  for  meetings,  for 
Sunday  School  and  kindred  objects,  and  in  connection  with  it 
an  Auditorium  suitable  for  large  gatherings  and  entertain- 
ments. The  plan  has  succeeded  admirably  in  its  object. 

The  Sanger  union  has  a unique  property.  Feeling  long 
ago  that  their  work  should  have  a local  habitation  as  well  as  a 
name,  they  secured  a fine  site  intending  to  hold  it  until  they 
could  build.  In  the  meantime  religion  and  morals  had  reached 
a low  ebb  in  the  town,  and  the  united  clergy  had  decided  that 
a great  effort  must  be  made  to  revive  these  interests,  but 
there  was  no  building  in  town  large  enough  for  great  meetings. 
For  this  object  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  lot  was  the  desirable  spot. 
So  the  women  forthwith  raised  money  to  erect  and  equip  a 
building  for  Evangelistic  meetings,  all  but  a good  floor  for 
which  a temporary  substitute  was  provided.  Later  the  other 
unions  of  the  county  helped  to  supply  that,  and  with  its  seats 
and  piano,  the  “Auditorium  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.”  stands  a 
monument  to  their  faith  and  an  aid  to  good  works. 

Many  unions  have  had  their  abiding  place  in  a rented  room, 
and  some  are  permanently  located  in  a home  that  can  lend 
its  spare  room  to  such  a purpose. 

Sissons,  in  the  far  north,  was  the  center  of  lumber  and  rail- 
road interests  in  that  region  and  the  large  number  of  homeless 
men  employed  there  gave  the  saloon  element  easy  predomi- 
nance. Mrs.  Skelton  organized  a union  of  earnest  women  there 
like  an  outpost  in  the  enemy’s  country.  Not  being  an  incor- 
porated town  the  streets  and  walks  of  Sissons  were  an  optional 
matter.  A sidewalk  on  one  side  of  the  main  street  was  pre- 
sumed to  be  sufficient,  and  that  side  was  lined  with  saloons. 
The  women  in  disgust  refused  to  walk  on  it,  and  built  a sub- 


MILLER  MEMORIAL  BUILDING 
Stockton 


READING  ROOM,  BOULDER  CREEK 


COFFEE  CLUB  AND  REST  ROOM 
Campbell 


BIDM'ELL  HALL 

The  Annie  K.  Bidwell  L^nion,  Chico 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION.  153 


stantial  walk  on  the  other  side  of  the  street.  It  has  been  in 
use  and  known  as  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  sidewalk  for  twenty  years. 
Such  towns  have  no  fire  protection,  and  when  a fire  occurs 
every  man  fights  it.  When  it  is  over  all  are  exhausted,  and 
between  excitement  and  thirst  the  saloons  have  a harvest. 
One  night  there  was  a big  fire  at  Sissons.  All  the  men  rushed 
to  the  fire.  The  president  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  at  once  lit  her 
kitchen  fire  and  prepared  a wash-boiler  full  of  coffee.  Her 
husband  returning,  exclaimed,  “What’s  all  this?”  For  answer 
she  sent  him  out  to  invite  everybody  in  to  have  hot  coffee.  A 
saloon-keeper  was  among  the  first,  and  declared  he  had  never 
had  a better  drink,  little  thinking  this  was  done  to  keep  men 
away  from  his  place.  Another  case  of  substitution. 

As  far  back  as  1889  the  Fresno  union  paid  thirty  dollars  a 
month  to  keep  barrels  of  ice-water  on  the  streets  of  Fresno 
during  the  hot  months.  More  substitution. 

Next  to  Reading  Rooms  the  most  general  effort  of  the 
unions  was  the  roadside  watering  troughs.  Such  facilities 
were  usually  found  in  front  of  a saloon.  The  towns  did  not 
provide  what  the  saloon  was  glad  to  furnish,  and  the  teamster 
who  did  not  patronize  the  bar  in  recognition  of  the  accommo- 
dation, was  likely  to  be  advised  to  go  on  and  water  his  horses 
somewhere  else.  In  town  or  country  the  custom  was  the 
same.  The  unions  took  up  that  work  early  and  must  have 
set  up  miles  of  watering  troughs  throughout  the  state.  Grad- 
ually public  authorities  have  assumed  this  duty. 

Many  beautiful  fountains  have  been  erected  by  the  unions. 
Sacramento  in  1890  placed  one  near  the  Postoffice  by  permis- 
sion of  the  government,  at  a cost  of  $500.  Hanford  has  a 
very  handsome  one,  conspicuously  placed.  San  Francisco  W. 
C.  T.  U.  placed  a fine  fountain  at  one  side  of  the  Ferry  en- 
trance, and  the  California  Club  a corresponding  one  on  the 
other  side.  The  Mendocino  unions  had  erected  two  fountains 
in  1889.  Benicia  has  a fine  one  near  the  old  historic  State 
House.  Turlock  union  jointly  with  a Woman’s  Club  placed  a 
drinking  fountain  and  watering  troughs  in  that  city  in  1910. 
Madera  union  erected  a granite  fountain  at  a cost  of  $400,  in 
1909.  The  union  at  Fowler  presented  a fine  fountain  to  the 
city  in  1912.  Cloverdale,  Petaluma,  Pacific  Grove,  Los  Gatos, 
Orland  and  some  others  not  reported  have  provided  public 


154 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


fountains  and  nearly  all  have  been  presented  to  the  towns, 
which  then  assume  their  care. 

Selma  has  erected  a fine  fountain. 

It  is  doubtful  if  even  Miss  Willard’s  “Do  Everything”  policy 
embraced  all  that  the  unions  have  tried.  A large  Young 
Woman’s  union  once  planted  four  miles  of  shade  trees  along 
a mountain  road,  but  alas  for  the  trees — like  other  good  things 
planted,  trees  cannot  live  without  constant  care. 

In  the  usual  questions  on  the  blank  for  local  reports,  is  this, 
“What  has  been  your  special  work  this  year?”  One  union 
replied,  “We  have  built  a fence  around  a graveyard.”  The 
union  that  could  “find  no  living  thing  to  do”  or  do  for,  prob- 
ably died  a natural  death, — it  has  not  been  heard  from  since. 

Campaigns — Berkeley. 

The  W.  C.  T.  U.  has  trained  its  members  to  a mental  alert- 
ness that  sees  possibilities  afar  off,  and  in  none  of  its  activi- 
ties is  that  more  evident  than  in  local  elections.  Some  one 
starts  an  idea,  and  pursues  it  until  others  are  aroused,  and  it 
becomes  a popular  thought.  For  instance,  there  occurred  in 
Berkeley  in  1905  an  incident  that  led  to  great  results. 

Mrs.  Mary  H.  Cartwright,  local  Press  Superintendent,  was 
going  to  a newspaper  office  early  one  morning,  and  met  upon 
her  threshold  a man  she  had  never  seen  before,  or  since  that 
time.  He  pointed  at  her  White  Ribbon,  saying,  “So  you  be- 
long to  the  White  Ribbon  Army  do  you?  So  do  I,”  and 
added,  “Wouldn’t  it  be  a good  thing  to  have  a prohibition 
clause  in  the  new  charter?”  That  idea  was  already  burning 
in  her  brain  and  she  responded,  “Of  course  it  would,”  and 
full  of  the  hope  that  a sympathetic  word  had  imparted,  soon 
found  herself  in  the  newspaper  office,  where,  being  a frequent 
visitor  she  was  sure  of  a welcome.  She  consulted  the  kindly 
editor,  Mr.  Friend  Richardson,  who  thought  there  was  a pos- 
sible chance  if  it  could  be  done  in  just  the  right  way,  asking 
her  for  her  ideas  which  she  outlined,  and  then  went  home  to 
act  upon.  She  wrote  to  the  chairman  of  the  New  Charter 
Committee,  not  lightly,  but  with  thought  and  prayer  that  held 
her  far  into  the  night.  The  letter  was  submitted  to  her  news- 
paper friend,  who  approved  and  asked  “What  next?”  “I 
propose,”  she  said,  “to  write  to  the  Improvement  Clubs.”  This 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION 


155 


she  did,  and  again  he  approved,  had  them  typewritten  and 
mailed,  and  then  asked  her  for  an  article  for  the  “Gazette,” 
which  he  would  back  with  an  editorial.  The  letters  went  to 
many  clubs  and  were  acted  upon  favorably  by  the  most  im- 
portant. One  invited  her  to,  present  the  matter  personally. 
This  was  a cross,  but  had  to  be  done.  She  talked  straight  at 
them  for  half  an  hour;  then  the  president  said,  “Now  Mrs. 
Cartwright,  tell  us  just  what  you  want.  ” She  sprang  to  her 
feet  and  said,  “Just  this,  gentlemen,  that  you  as  an  influential 
body,  put  yourselves  on  record  in  favor  of  a clause  in  the  new 
charter  forever  prohibiting  the  licensing  of  liquor-selling  in 
our  University  town.”  The  very  man  who  had  argued  against 
the  proposition  when  her  letter  was  read  at  the  previous  meet- 
ing, arose  and  proposed  a strong  resolution  in  its  favor.  It 
was  adopted  by  unanimous  vote,  and  she  went  home  grateful 
to  God  for  the  victory.  Next  night  the  North  Berkeley  Club 
did  the  same,  publishing  her  letter.  The  Gazette  took  up  the 
cry,  other  clubs  followed  and  the  campaign  went  on.  The 
charter  when  finished  was  not  accepted  by  the  Council.  An- 
other committee  was  named  and  all  the  work  had  to  be  re- 
peated. When  nearly  done  a conservative  friend  said  that  this 
clause  might  defeat  the  charter.  With  ready  wit  Mrs.  Cart- 
wright said,  “Put  it  on  as  an  addendum  to  be  voted  on  sepa- 
rately.” When  ready,  the  prohibition  feature  was  found  to 
be  very  inconspicuous,  while  in  another  place  were  the  omin- 
ous words,  “All  business  shall  be  licensed  for  revenue.” 

The  next  meeting  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  was  an  indignation 
meeting,  and  every  woman  had  a copy  of  the  new  charter  in 
her  hand.  A gentleman  present  offered  them  10,000  cards  and 
literature  to  distribute  among  the  mothers  of  Berkeley. 

A Woman’s  Charter  Committee  representing  all  organiza- 
tions of  women  was  promptly  formed,  the  town  systematically 
canvassed  with  literature  and  when  the  election  came,  the 
new  charter  was  carried  by  six  to  one,  and  prohibition  by  three 
to  one.  It  had  been  a struggle  of  two  years  and  it  paid. 

Berkeley  is  the  largest  “dry”  town  in  the  state. 

Stanislaus. 

Everywhere  the  women  have  wrought  well  in  local  cam- 
paigns. Stanislaus  has  sent  the  following  account  of  the 


156 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


election  in  that  county ; so  similar  to  that  of  others  that  it 
would  be  superfluous  to  add  to  it. 

“May  14th,  1912,  will  be  celebrated  as  the  dry  election  day. 
The  County  Union  had  just  celebrated  its  twenty-fifth  year. 
All  the  moral  forces  united  in  the  campaign — the  best  speak- 
ers were  secured,  and  much  personal  canvassing  was  done  by 
men  and  women.  The  whole  county  went  dry  by  this  election, 
but  Modesto  as  an  incorporated  city  held  a subsequent  elec- 
tion, and  went  “wet”  by  43  votes.  In  due  time  the  “drys” 
will  call  another  election.” 

There  is  a fine  inference  to  be  drawn  from  this  victory  and 
the  steadily  growing  membership  of  the  county. 

“From  May  1907  to  May  1908 — 161  members. 

From  May  1908  to  May  1909 — 195  members. 

From  May  1909  to  May  1910 — 303  members. 

From  May  1910  to  May  1911 — 370  members. 

From  May  1911  to  May  1912 — 536  members. 

From  May  1912  to  May  1913 — 662  members. 

The  present  aim  is  1000  members  to  be  reported  at  State 
W.  C.  T.  U.  Convention  in  Modesto  1914.  We  can  if  we  will, 
and  we  will.” 

An  augmenting  force  like  that  promises  votes. 

“Dry”  Ground. 

An  effort  has  been  made  to  secure  data  in  regard  to  the 
extent  of  territory  under  prohibitory  laws.  The  report  of 
the  Anti-Saloon  League  of  Northern  and  Central  California 
is  complete  and  up-to-date.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  League  is 
identical  with  that  embraced  in  these  chronicles,  and  by  their 
courtesy  the  statement  is  given. 

“This  portion  of  the  state  has  forty-eight  counties,  in  which 
there  are  227  Supervisoral  Districts  outside  the  incorporated 
cities.  Of  these  109  are  Dry.  There  are  146  municipalities, 
43  of  which  are  Dry.  Eleven  of  the  forty-eight  counties  are 
Dry.” 

While  the  map  is  more  than  half  white,  much  less  than 
half  the  population  lives  unler  prohibitory  law.  The  W.  C. 
T.  U.  has  co-operated  with  all  forces  working  against  the 
liquor  traffic,  and  the  dry  gains  have  largely  increased  since 
the  Suffrage  Amendment. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION 


157 


Benefactors. 

The  gift  of  more  than  $3000  by  Dr.  Richard  Hayes  McDon- 
ald for  the  specific  purpose  of  inducing  the  school  children  of 
the  state  to  write  essays  on  temperance,  was  indeed  a bene- 
faction. An  account  of  the  work  has  already  been  given.  It 
accomplished  its  object  in  the  schools  and  gave  prestige  to 
the  early  work  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

Dr.  McDonald  continued  a warm  friend  and  as  long  as 
he  remained  in  the  state,  frequently  assisted  the  undertakings 
of  the  Union. 

The  preceding  narrative  has  also  told  of  the  generous  gifts 
of  Mr.  Edward  Coleman,  whose  beneficence  enabled  the  state 
to  do  another  splendid  work  for  the  schools,  through  Mrs. 
Eyster’s  lectures.  He  never  lost  interest  in  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
after  his  first  gift,  and  from  time  to  time  made  contributions 
to  the  general  work  and  to  such  special  efforts  as  claimed 
his  attention.  By  his  will  he  has  bequeathed  $5000  to  the 
state  union. 

Mrs.  J.  L.  Everts  was  a generous  giver  in  her  life,  and  be- 
queathed by  her  will  $2000  to  the  state  union,  $2000  to  the 
Tri-county  union  of  which  she  had  been  an  honored  presi- 
dent, and  $1000  to  the  local  union  of  Santa  Cruz,  of  which 
she  was  a member.  Her  kind  intentions  were  frustrated  by 
the  action  of  the  courts.  The  will  was  contested  and  only 
a moiety  of  these  amounts  reached  the  legatees. 

Mrs.  Mary  T.  McCall  recently  left  by  will  $500  to  the  state 
union  and  $500  to  the  local  union  of  San  Jose. 

Mrs.  Susan  L.  Locke  is  a benefactor  whose  helping  hand 
has  often  by  a timely  gift  of  $100,  carried  the  work  over  a 
time  of  stress  or  aided  in  special  objects. 

Mrs.  Annie  K.  Bidwell  is  another  who  exemplified  the 
“grace  of  giving,”  and  has  given  generously  and  judiciously 
to  the  special  objects  as  they  arise. 

The  late  Mr.  Joseph  Knowland  was  a friend  indeed  whose 
timely  gifts  have  often  met  a special  object. 

Illustrations. 

The  illustrations  are  presented  in  the  assurance  of  giving 
pleasure  to  the  old  comrades  of  those  whose  portraits  appear. 


158 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Securing  them  has  been  like  bringing  old  friends  together. 
Some  will  be  looked  for,  that  could  not  be  obtained,  but  many- 
old  associations  will  be  renewed.  A beautiful  coincidence  oc- 
curs where  mother  and  daughter  are  at  the  same  time  identi- 
fied with  the  work. 

Among  the  state  officers  are  the  Vice  President  at  Large, 
Mrs.  Addie  G.  Estes,  and  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Ethel  Estes 
Stephenson,  Secretary  of  the  “Young  People’s  Branch.” 

Two  successive  presidents  of  Butte  County  were  Mrs.  D. 
W.  Gray  and  her  daughter-in-law,  Mrs.  Lilian  B.  Gray. 

Another  mother  and  daughter  are  Mrs.  D.  S.  Dickson  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Dickson  Hotle,  presidents  of  Sonoma  County. 

An  interesting  trio  are  Mrs.  N.  T.  Sanders,  a veteran  whose 
intelligent  devotion  has  been  a factor  in  the  work  of  Sacra- 
mento, Solano  and  Santa  Clara  Counties  where  she  has  lived. 
When  past  eighty  years  of  age  she  was  awarded  a prize  by 
the  National  Superintendent  of  Medical  Temperance  for  the 
best  local  report  of  her  department.  One  of  her  daughters, 
Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman,  has  been  president  successively  of 
Solano  and  Santa  Clara  Counties.  The  other,  Mrs.  Ella  H. 
Whitman,  has  been  identified  especially  with  Medical  Tem- 
perance in  these  counties.  Only  her  family  cares  have  kept 
her  from  the  state  work. 

Two  familiar  faces  will  recall  the  striking  personality  and 
marked  character  of  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Harry  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Smith,  always  remembered  in  lifelong  association  with  each 
other.  Mrs.  Harry  as  an  ardent  suffragist  and  eloquent 
speaker,  and  Mrs.  Smith  as  Superintendent  of  Medical  Tem- 
perance. 

Another  mother  and  daughter  are  Mrs.  A.  B.  Gove,  Super- 
intendent of  Prison  work,  and  Mrs.  Carrie  G.  Merrall,  presi- 
dent of  Contra  Costa  County. 

The  last  group  represents  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward.  Mrs.  O.  J. 
Ward  is  the  honored  Superintendent  of  Health  and  Heredity, 
and  Mr.  James  Ward  is  a helper  too  well  known  to  be  left 
out.  Some  years  ago  they  took  part  in  a Silver  Gray  Suffrage 
Medal  Contest.  Mr.  Ward  forgot  his  piece,  but  launched  out 
in  an  eloquent  original  oration  so  superior  to  the  one  he  had 
memorized  that  the  Medal  was  awarded  to  it. 


WOMAN’S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION 


159 


FINIS. 

This  simple  narrative  is  closed  with  the  feeling  that  “all  the 
way  we  have  been  led,”  has  been  but  the  drill,  discipline,  and 
experience,  in  short  the  novitiate,  by  which  the  organization 
has  been  made  ready  to  enter  upon  an  era  of  opportunity;  re- 
sponsibility and  service,  exceeding  by  far  the  limitations  of  the 
present.  D.  J.  S. 


W.  C.  T.  U.  HYMN. 

Tune — “America.” 

To  Thee,  O Lord,  we  raise 
Our  hymn  of  love  and  praise 
For  all  Thy  care! 

Thus  far,  we  know.  Thy  hand 
Throughout  this  wide,  wide  land. 
Hath  led  our  Union  Band 
By  faith  and  prayer. 

We  know  the  coming  years 
Seem  dark  with  sin ; and  fears 
Our  hearts  assail. 

But,  with  Thy  hand  to  guide 
And  hold  us  near  Thy  side. 

We  know  what’er  betide 
Right  will  prevail. 

Before  Thy  throne  we  bow 
In  humble  suppliance;  now 
Thy  blessing  crave. 

Though  dark  the  storm-clouds  lower. 
Oh,  help  us  in  this  hour. 

Renewed  by  quickening  power. 

The  lost  to  save. 

And,  in  the  year  to  be. 

May  we  Thy  glory  see 
To  earth  descend; 

And  from  the  East  and  West 
May  all  mankind  be  blest. 

And  in  Thy  keeping  rest 
Till  time  shall  end. 


MRS.  GRACE  KIMBALL. 


160 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA 


Declaration  of  Principles. 

We  believe  in  the  coming  of  His  Kingdom  whose  service 
is  perfect  freedom,  because  His  laws,  written  in  our  members 
as  well  as  in  nature  and  in  grace,  are  perfect,  converting  the 
soul. 

We  believe  in  the  gospel  of  the  Golden  Rule,  and  that  each 
man’s  habits  of  life  should  be  an  example  safe  and  beneficent 
for  every  other  man  to  follow. 

We  believe  that  God  created  both  man  and  woman  in  His 
own  image,  and  therefore  we  believe  in  one  standard  of  purity 
for  both  men  and  women,  and  in  the  equal  right  of  all  to  hold 
opinions  and  to  express  the  same  with  equal  freedom. 

We  believe  in  a living  wage;  in  courts  of  conciliation  and 
arbitration;  in  justice  as  opposed  to  greed  of  gain;  in  “peace 
on  earth  and  good-will  to  men.” 

We  therefore  formulate,  and  for  ourselves  adopt  the  follow- 
ing pledge,  asking  our  sisters  and  brothers  of  a common  dan- 
ger and  a common  hope,  to  make  common  cause  with  us,  in 
working  its  reasonable  and  helpful  precepts  into  the  practice 
of  everyday  life : 

I hereby  solemnly  promise,  God  helping  me,  to  abstain 
from  all  distilled,  fermented  and  malt  liquors,  including  wine, 
beer  and  cider,*  and  to  employ  all  proper  means  to  discourage 
the  use  of  and  traffic  in  the  same. 

To  confirm  and  enforce  the  rationale  of  this  pledge,  we  de- 
clare our  purpose  to  educate  the  young;  to  form  a better 
public  sentiment;  to  reform,  so  far  as  possible,  by  religious, 
ethical  and  scientific  means,  the  drinking  classes ; to  seek  the 
transforming  power  of  Divine  grace  for  ourselves  and  all  for 
whom  we  work,  that  they  and  we  may  wilfully  transcend  no 
law  of  pure  and  wholesome  living ; and  finally  we  pledge  our- 
selves to  labor  and  to  pray  that  all  these  principles,  founded 
upon  the  gospel  of  Christ,  may  be  worked  out  into  the  customs 
of  society  and  the  laws  of  the  land. 


’State  and  local  constitutions  can  include  the  words  “as  a beverage,” 
if  desired. 


OFFICIAL  ROSTER 

AND 

Index  of  Portraits 


(Elections  always  occurring  In  October,  all  official  terms  begin  then, 
except  in  case  of  a resignation.) 


Presidents. 

Date  of  Service. 

Page. 

Mrs.  G.  S.  Abbott 

1879 

to 

1880 

9 

Mrs.  P.  D.  Browne 

1880 

to 

1882 

24 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Gray 

1882 

(Resigned  in  May,  year  finished  by) 

Mrs.  P.  D.  Browne 

1883 

to 

1884 

Mrs.  S.  G.  Churchill 

1884 

to 

1888 

24 

Mrs.  R.  R.  Johnston 

1888 

to 

1890 

24 

(Resigned  Jan.  6,  1891,  and  was 

succeeded  by  the  First  Vice  President.) 

Mrs.  B.  Sturtevant-Peet 

-Jan.  1891 

to 

1907 

25 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Dorr 

1907 

to 

1913 

32 

First  Vice-Presidents. 


Mrs.  John  A.  McNear 1879  to  1880 

Mrs.  G.  S.  Abbott 1880  to  1882 

Mrs.  B.  Sturtevant-Peet 1884  to  1891 

Mrs.  S.  G.  Churchill 1891  to  1893 

Mrs.  E.  G.  Greene 1893  to  1899 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Dorr 1899  to  1901 

Vice-Presidents-At-Large 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Dorr 1901  to  1907 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ross  Miller 1907  to  1911 

Mrs.  Addie  Garwood  Estes 1911  to  1913 


9 

25 

24 

32 

32 


32 

32 

32 


General  Secretary. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Congdon 1879  to  1883 

Corresponding  Secretary. 

Mrs.  H.  H.  Havens 1884  to  1889 

Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer 1889  to  1894 

Mrs.  Henrietta  E.  Brown 1897  to  1897 

Resigned  Jan.  1897,  term  filled  by) 


Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer 1897  to  1904 

Miss  Anna  E.  Chase 1904  to  1913 


2 


32 

32 

32 


32 


Recording  Secretary. 


Mrs.  L.  P.  Williams 1882  to  1884 

Mrs.  A.  L.  Van  Blarcom 1884  to  1885 

Mrs.  Nellie  Blessing  Eyster 1885  to  1887 

Mrs.  Mary  H.  Field 1887  to  1889 

Mrs.  Henrietta  E.  Brown 1889  to  1894 


48 

48 

48 

32 


162 


OFFICIAL  ROSTER 


Presidents.  ' Date  of  Service. 

Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer 1894  to  1897 

Mrs.  R.  A.  Emmons 1897  to  1899 

Mrs.  Annie  Little  Barry 1899  to  1904 

Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer 1904  to  1906 

Mrs.  Addie  Garwood  Estes 1906  to  1907 

Mrs.  Dorps  J.  Spencer 1907  to  1908 

Mrs.  Addie  Garwood  Estes 1908  to  1911 

Mrs.  Emily  M.  Skoe 1911  to  1913 

Treasurer. 

Mrs.  William  Elder 1879  to  1880 

Mrs.  I.  G.  Wickersham 1880  to  1882 

Mrs.  S.  G.  Chamberlain 1882  to  1887 

Mrs.  M.  C.  Hart 1887  to  1889 

Mrs.  Emily  Hoppin 1889  to  1907 

Mrs.  Iowa  M.  Holston 1907  to  1913 

Auditor. 

Dr.  C.  Annette  Buckel 1879  to  1882 

Mrs.  Thomas  Varney 1882  to  1885 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Carver 1890  to  1894 

Mrs.  Joseph  Knowland 1885  to  1890 

Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Sanford 1894  to  1895 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Coughlan 1895  to  1896 

Mrs.  Blanche  English 1896  to  1906 

Mrs.  Annie  Little  Barry 1906  to  1909 

Mrs.  Ina  Orvis 1909  to  1913 

YOUNG  PEOPLE’S  BRANCH. 

Secretary. 

Miss  Mabel  Sabelman 1900 

(Lapsed) 

Mrs.  Alice  Newton ;-.1905  to  1908 

Miss  Foneta  Chase 1908  to  1910 

Mrs.  Mary  Bosworth  Clarke 1910  to  1911 

Mrs.  Ethel  Estes  Stephenson 1911  to  1913 

LOYAL  TEMPERANCE  LEGION  BRANCH. 
Secretary. 

Mrs.  Alice  Bowman 1902  to  1905 

Mrs.  Mary  F.  Gilley 1909  to  1913 

COUNTY  PRESIDENTS. 

Alameda. 

Mrs.  Sturtevant-Peet 1885  to  1891 

Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Sanford 1891  to  1893 

Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Borland 1893  to  1895 

Mrs.  N.  Jolidan  Croake 1895  to  1897 

Mrs.  R.  R.  Johnston 1897  to  1898 

Mrs.  M.  McLean  Hardy 1898  to  1899 

Mrs.  Sarah  McClees 1899  to  1900 

Mrs.  Hattie  E.  McMath 1900  to  1902 

Mrs.  Margaret  B.  Pelton 1902  to  1903 

Mrs.  S.  M.  M.  Woodman 1903  to  1909 

Mrs.  Christine  Mansfield 1909  to  1912 

Mrs.  Rosa  D.  Barker 1912  to  1913 

Amador. 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Sallee 1887 

Mrs.  J.  R.  Tregloan 1888  to  1892 


Page. 

32 

48 

32 

32 

32 

32 

48 


48 

48 

48 


48 


48 

48 


48 

48 


97 

32 


49 

49 


25 

48 

56 

56 

24 

56 

56 

56 

56 


OFFICIAL  ROSTER 


Presidents. 


Date  of  Service. 


Mrs.  E.  J.  Towrns 1892  to  1894 

Mrs.  C.  M.  Cooper 1895  to  1897 

.Mrs.  S.  P.  Sallee 1897  to  1899 

Mrs.  L.  J.  Fassett 1899  to  1913 


Butte. 

Mrs.  Dorcas  W.  Gray 1890  to  1894 

Mrs.  L.  A.  B.  Curtis 1894  to  1896 

Mrs.  Dorcas  W.  Gray 1896  to  1897 

Mrs.  Annie  K.  Bidwell 1897  to  1901 

Mrs.  Mary  M.  Thornton 1901  to  1903 

Mrs.  Lilian  F.  B.  Gray 1903  to  1904 

Mrs.  Anna  K.  Bidwell 1904  to  1910 

Mrs.  Mary  M.  Thornton 1910  to  1912 

Mrs.  Estelle  Baltimore 1912  to  1913 

OiS'Vcr^s 

Mrs.  Jennie  A.  Bennett 1892  to  1894 

Mrs.  Susan  Wright 1894 

Mrs.  Lois  B.  Shank 1895 


(Calaveras  joined  with  San  Joaquin  in  a bi-County  Union.) 


Colusa. 

(Then  including  Glenn  Co.) 


Mrs.  Harriet  Richey 1891  to  1894 

Mrs.  Emma  J.  Hall 1894 

Mrs.  W.  W.  Kilgore 1904 

(Lapsed  and  then  became  a tri-county, 
with  Tehama  and  Glenn.) 

Mrs.  W.  W.  Kilgore 1911  to  1913 

Contra  Costa. 

Mrs.  Adella  B.  Schott 1885  to  1888 

Mrs.  L.  J.  Wills 1888  to  1890 

Mrs.  C.  M.  Olliver 1888  to  1890 

Mrs.  L.  J.  Wills 1890  to  1892 

Mrs.  Carrie  G.  Merrall 1892  to  1893 

Mrs.  Oma  R.  Miller 1893  to  1895 

Mrs.  A.  T.  Richardson 1895  to  1896 

Mrs.  Oma  R.  Miller 1896  to  1899 

Mrs.  M.  E.  Bowers 1899  to  1901 

Mrs.  L.  F.  King 1901  to  1903 

Mrs.  A.  Smith 1903  to  1904 

Mrs.  Alice  D.  Dickenson 1904  to  1913 

Del  Norte. 

Mrs.  K.  L.  Cooper 1893  to  1894 

Mrs.  C.  E.  Winning 1895 

El  Dorado 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Worth 1892  to  1893 

Mrs.  S.  G.  Beach 1893  to  1896 

(Organization  lapsed.) 

Mrs.  Anna  M.  Arnot 1906  to  1913 

Fresno 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Kahler 1885  to  1886 

Mrs.  J.  G.  Tuttle 1886  to  1888 

Mrs.  Emma  R.  Colwell 1888  to  1890 

Mrs.  Reba  Smith 1890  to  1891 


164 


OFFICIAL  ROSTER 


Presidents. 

Mrs.  Fanny  Wood 

Mrs.  L.  F.  Young 

Miss  Clara  Boyer 

Mrs.  Emily  Webb  Giesey 

Rev.  Mary  J.  Borden 

Mrs.  L.  F.  King 

Mrs.  H.  H.  Tyler 

(Included  Madera  as  bi-County.) 

Mrs.  M.  K.  Pickerell 

Miss  Lizzie  Webb 

Mrs.  M.  B.  Pelton 

Rev.  Mary  J.  Borden 

Mrs.  Anna  M.  DeYo 

Mrs.  Anna  M.  Pettit 

(Madera  withdrawn,  1913.) 


Humboldt 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Bergen 

Mrs.  A.  M.  Gill 

Mrs.  R.  Taylor 

Mrs.  J.  W.  Kelley 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Brown 

Mrs.  B.  F.  Farmer 

Mrs.  Jessie  B.  Thomson 

Mrs.  E.  L.  Burch 

Mrs.  E.  T.  Hanson 

Mrs.  M.  S.  Drake 

Mrs.  Alice  M.  Peebles 

Mrs.  Jessie  B.  Thomson 

Mrs.  Margaret  Morgan 

Mrs.  Alice  Bardford 

Lake 

Miss  L.  J.  Torrey 

Mrs.  H.  N.  S.  Newton 

Mrs.  R.  A.  Lyon 

Mrs.  Viola  Boardman 

Mrs.  Emma  T.  Ramsdell 

Lassen 

Mrs.  E.  V.  Spencer 

Madera 

Mrs.  Ida  Tulley  Jones 

Mendocino 

Mrs.  B.  G.  Mast 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ross  Miller 

Mrs.  Myrtle  Saxon 

Merced 

Mrs.  Mary  Norwood  Ostrander 

Mrs.  C.  H.  Castle 

Mrs-.  M.  N.  Ostrander 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Elmore 

Modoc 

Mrs.  E.  E.  Sparger 


Date  of 

Service. 

Page. 

1891 

to 

1892 

112 

1892 

to 

1893 

1893 

to 

1895 

64 

1895 

to 

1896 

1896 

to 

1897 

64 

1897 

to 

1898 

64 

1898 

to 

1901 

64 

1901 

to 

1902 

1902 

to 

1905 

1905 

to 

1908 

56 

1908 

to 

1911 

1911 

to 

1913 

64 

1913 

1888 

to 

1889 

1889 

to 

1890 

1890 

to 

1892 

1892 

to 

1893 

1894 

to 

1896 

65 

.1896 

to 

1897 

.1897 

to 

1899 

1899 

to 

1900 

.1900 

to 

1901 

.1901 

to 

1902 

.1902 

to 

1904 

65 

.1904 

to 

1909 

.1909 

to 

1911 

.1911 

to 

1913 

■1890 

to 

1892 

.1892 

to 

1894 

65 

..1894 

to 

1895 

..1895 

to 

1896 

..1896 

to 

1901 

...1896 

to 

1897 

65 

...1907 

to 

1911 

64 

...1888 

to 

1894 

...1894 

to 

1912 

32 

...1912 

to 

1913 

...1908 

to 

1909 

80 

...1909 

to 

1912 

...1912 

...1913 

to 

1913 

129 

...1896 

to 

1897 

OFFICIAL  ROSTER 


16S 


Presidents. 


Date  of  Service.  Page. 


Napa 

Mrs.  W.  W.  Stillwagon 

(Reorganized.) 

Mrs.  Viola  R.  Tays 

Mrs.  Clara  Elliott 

Mrs.  Ellen  C.  Taylor 

Mrs.  A.  W.  Norton 

Mrs.  Emma  Mooney 

Mrs.  Viola  R.  Tays 

Mrs.  Olliver  Smith 

(Lapsed.) 

Mrs.  Mae  Tompkins  

Nevada 

Mrs.  Dorcas  J.  Spencer 

Mrs.  H.  J.  Merritt 

Mrs.  L.  E.  Everett 

Mrs.  A.  H.  Needham 

Mrs.  A.  J.  Rapp 

Mrs.  Juliet  Lukey 

Mrs.  E.  S.  Hathaway 

Placer 

Mrs.  T.  P.  Marston 

Mrs.  Mary  Bell  Mallory,  M.  D 

Mrs.  M.  Fanny  Theiss 

Mrs.  Maria  A.  Croly 

Mrs.  Susannah  Van  Lennep 

Mrs.  S.  E.  Callen 

Mrs.  Harriet  B.  Watt 

Mrs.  Della  Fassett 

Mrs.  Carrie  Gladding 

Plumas 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Drew 

Miss  Tillie  Kruger 

Mrs.  F.  G.  Hail 


Sacramento 

Mrs.  C.  E.  McKelvey 

Mrs.  Margaret  B.  Willis 

Mrs.  Jennie  Dixon 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Waggoner 

Mrs.  M.  E.  Jenks 

Mrs.  Margaret  B.  Willis 

(El  Dorado  was  joined  in  bi-county  in  1899.) 

Mrs.  R.  E.  McMullen 

Miss  Sabra  Finch  

Mrs.  Alice  Stalker 

(El  Dorado  withdrawn  in  1906.) 

Mrs.  Alice  B.  Hinman 


San  Francisco. 

Mrs.  Laura  P.  Williams 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Carver 

Mrs.  Laura  P.  Williams 

Mrs.  Maria  Freeman  Gray 

Mrs.  Rose  M.  French 


00 

00 

Ol 

to 

1886 

-.1891 

to 

1893 

-1893 

to 

1897 

-1897 

to 

1899 

-1899 

to 

1901 

80 

-1901 

to 

1902 

-1902 

to 

1903 

-1903 

to 

1904 

-1913 

-1885 

to 

1888 

32 

-1888 

to 

1889 

-1889 

to 

1890 

80 

—1890 

to 

1891 

-1891 

to 

1898 

-.1898 

to 

1900 

80 

....1900 

to 

1903 

....1891 

to 

1890 

1894 

81 

....1894 

to 

1895 

....1895 

to 

1897 

....1897 

to 

1900 

....1900 

to 

1908 

81 

....1908 

to 

1910 

81 

....1910 

to 

1912 

....1912 

to 

1913 

—1890 

to 

1891 

....1895 

to 

1897 

....1897 

to 

1901 

81 

....1891 

to 

1890 

1893 

80 

—1893 

to 

1895 

80 

....1895 

to 

1896 

-.1896 

to 

1897 

80 

....1897 

to 

1901 

....1901 

to 

1902 

....1902 

to 

1903 

80 

....1903 

to 

1906 

80 

1906  tol913 

80 

....1885 

to 

1887 

48 

....1887  to 

1890 

....1890 

to 

1891 

....1891 

to 

1892 

120 

....1892  to 

1893 

88 

166 


OFFICIAL  ROSTER 


Presidents.  Date  of  Service. 

Mrs.  Laura  P.  Williams 1893  to  1894 

Miss  S.  M.  N.  Cummings 1894  to  1895 

Mrs.  Lydia  F.  Luse 1895  to  1897 

Mrs.  Annie  Little  Barry 1897  to  1898 

Mrs.  Maria  Freeman  Gray 1898  to  1900 

Mrs.  Alice  E.  Bradley 1900  to  1905 

Mrs.  Augusta  C.  Bainbridge 1905  to  1907 

Mrs.  Alice  E.  Bradley 1907  to  1913 


San  Luis  Obispo 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Frick 

Mrs.  M.  H.  Whitmer 

Mrs.  J.  Janette  Coyle 

Mrs.  M.  H.  Whitmer 

Mrs.  Helen  Stewart 

Mrs.  Nora  Tanner  


Mrs.  Fanny  Wood  ’ 1885  to  1886 

Mrs.  Adeline  M.  Gates 1886  to  1887 

Mrs.  H.  B.  Ladd 1887  to  1888 

Mrs.  S.  M.  Wyllie , 1888  to  1890 

Mrs.  Henrietta  E.  Brown 1890  to  1891 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Churchill 1891  to  1897 

Mrs.  Sara  E.  Ayres 1897  to  1903 

(San  Mateo  Co.  came  into  bi-county.) 

Miss  Sarah  M Severance 1904 

Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman 1904  to  1906 

Mrs.  Sara  J.  Dorr 1906  to  1908 

Miss  Isola  Kennedy  1909 

(San  Mateo  withdrawn  in  1910.) 

Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman 1909  to  1912 

(Resigned  and  term  filled  by  Mrs.  I.  M.  Holston.) 

Mrs.  Ina  Orvis 1912  to  1913 

San  Joaquin 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Salinger 1886  to  1888 

Mrs.  P.  H.  Truax 1888  to  1890 

Mrs.  M.  W.  McMaster 1890  to  1891 

Mrs.  H.  R.  Schomp 1891  to  1892 

Mrs.  Sara  J.  Dorr 1892  to  1894 

Mrs.  Laura  E.  Knowles 1894  to  1897 

(Annexed  Calaveras  as  bi-county  in  1895.) 

Mrs.  George  Hyde  1897  to  1898 

Mrs.  Susan  L.  Locke 1898  to  1899 

Mrs.  Luda  S.  Reynolds 1899  to  1890 

Mrs.  Addie  G.  Estes 1900  to  1903 

Mrs.  Nellie  Goodwin  1903  to  1905 

Mrs.  Addie  G.  Estes 1905  to  1907 

Mrs.  Angie  Van  Buskirk 1907  to  1911 

(Calaveras  withdrawn  in  1911.) 

Mrs.  Edith  Moulton  1911  to  1913 

Mrs.  Alice  Murphy  1913 

Shasta 

Mrs.  Mary  L.  Nourse 1891 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Summer 1891  to  1894 

Miss  Rosaline  N.  Bell 1894  to  1895 

Mrs.  J.  L.  Bell 1895  to  1897 


1895  to  1896 

1896  to  1897 
1898  to  1901 
1901  to  1907 

1907  to  1908 

1908  to  1912 


Page. 

48 

88 

48 

88 

88 


112 


112 

96 

96 

96 

32 

24 

96 

49 

96 

32 

96 


48 

88 

32 


88 

88 

32 

88 

32 

88 

88 


OFFICIAI.  ROSTER 


167 


Presidents. 
Mrs.  H.  C.  Gle 


Siskiyou. 


(Lapsed) 


Mrs.  E. 


Solano. 


Mrs.  C.  A.  Hutton.. 
Mrs.  Mary  Dillas 


Mrs.  Effie  D.  Whitman- 

Mrs.  Nina  S.  Sheppa 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  Biggs- 

Mrs.  M.  E.  Mallett 

Mrs.  Alice  Coombs 
Mrs.  Jessie  S.  Clarke.— 


Mrs.  L.  M.  Hutton-. 
Mrs.  E.  M.  Higby.. 


Sonoma. 


Mrs.  D.  S.  Dickson 

(Marin  County  was  joined  as  a bi-county.) 

Mrs.  A.  J.  Wheeler 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Button 


Mrs.  D.  S.  Dickson.. 


(Marin  County  withdrawn.) 


Stanislaus 


(Lapsed.) 


Mrs.  A.  D.  Smith 

Miss  A.  A.  Mansfield.. 


Tuolumne 


Date  of  Service. 

Page. 

1897  to 

1902 

1902  to 

1903 

1903  to 

1904 

1904  to 

1905 

1905  to 

1908 

1893  to 

1894 

80 

1894  to 

1895 

1911  to 

1913 

1890 

89 

1890  to 

1895 

89 

1895  to 

1898 

1898  to 

1901 

1901  to 

1902 

96 

1902  to 

1904 

89 

1904  to 

1907 

89 

1907  to 

1908 

1908  to 

1909 

1909  to 

1913 

1886  to 

1888 

96 

1888  to 

1889 

1889  to 

J890 

1890  to 

1894 

96 

1894  to 

1900 

1900  to 

1901 

1901  to 

1902 

1902  to 

1905 

96 

1905  to 

1907 

1907  to 

1910 

1910  to 

1911 

1911  to 

1912 

96 

1912  to 

1913 

48 

1887  to 

1889 

112 

1889  to 

1892 

112 

1892  to 

1897 

112 

1897  to 

1898 

1898  to 

1899 

1899  to 

1900 

1907  to 

1913 

112 

1892 

1893 

TRI-COUNTY  UNION 

Monterey,  San  Benito  and  Santa  Cruz 

Mrs.  Duncan  Berry  1886  to  1888 

Mrs.  J.  L.  Everts 1888  to  1892 

Mrs.  E.  G.  Greene 1892  to  1899 


112 

112 

32 


168 


OFFICIAL  ROSTER 


Presidents. 

Date  of  Service. 

Page. 

Mrs. 

Sara  J.  Dorr 

1899 

to 

1903 

32 

Mrs. 

Iowa  M.  Holston 

1903 

to 

1908 

48 

Mrs. 

Margaret  Coleman  

1908 

to 

1913 

112 

Mrs. 

Ella  S.  Pringle 

1913 

145 

Tulare 

Mrs. 

M.  F.  Kline 

1885 

to 

1888 

Mrs. 

R.  A.  Hawkins 

1888 

to 

1892 

112 

Mrs. 

Lucy  F.  Sharp 

1892 

to 

1894 

(Kings  County  joined  in  bi-county.) 

Mrs. 

Lizzie  H.  Dopkins 

1894 

to 

1896 

Mrs. 

Jennie  Whittington  - 

1896 

to 

1897 

Mrs. 

Lizzie  H.  Dopkins 

1897 

to 

1898 

Mrs.- 

Flora  Savage  

1898 

to 

1899 

112 

Mrs. 

E.  Ballagh  

1899 

to 

1900 

(Lapsed.) 

Mrs. 

Lydia  Horseman  

1903 

to 

1905 

112 

Mrs. 

Rachel  Bartholemew  

1905 

to 

1913 

112 

Yolo 

Mrs. 

Emily  Hoppin  

1887 

to 

1890 

48 

Mrs. 

Ruth  A.  Armstrong 

1890 

to 

1895 

Mrs. 

E.  C.  Laugenour ’ 

1895 

to 

1897 

97 

Mrs. 

Annie  Hilliker  

1897 

to 

1899 

Mrs. 

T.  D.  Morin 

1899 

to 

1900 

Mrs. 

S.  A.  Huston 

1900 

to 

1904 

97 

Mrs. 

Emily  Hoppin  

1904 

to 

1905 

48 

Mrs. 

Alice  Scarlett  

1905 

to 

1906 

97 

Mrs. 

S.  A.  Huston 

1906 

to 

1910 

97 

Mrs. 

George  Pierce  

1910 

to 

1912 

Mrs. 

Alice  Scarlett  

1912 

to 

1913 

Yuba  and  Sutter 

Mrs. 

Ida  Frances  Lee 

1891 

to 

1893 

80 

Mrs. 

Coombs  

1893 

to 

1894 

Mrs. 

Ida  Frances  Lee 

1894 

to 

1896 

Mrs. 

Justus  Greely  

1896 

to 

1907 

PORTRAITS  OF  ORGANIZERS, 
EVANGELISTS,  SUPERINTENDENTS,  AND  OTHERS. 


Armstrong,  Mrs.  Christine 144 

Bailey,  Mrs.  S.  Renowden 144 

Barrett,  Mrs.  Julia  A 120 

Bauder,  Mrs.  Emma  Pow 120 

Bean,  Mrs.  Hannah 96 

Bentley,  Mrs.  Frances  H 128 

Bidwell,  Mrs.  Annie  K 56 

Bidwell,  Gen.  John 56 

Bidwell  Hall,  Chico 153 

Boalt,  Mrs.  C.  M. 5 

Bowen,  Mrs.  Mary  E 120 

Cartwright,  Mrs.  M.  H 128 

Coffee  Club  and  Rest  Room,  Campbell 153 

Coleman,  Mr.  Edward 121 

Coleman,  Mrs.  Edward 5 

Cook,  Mrs.  M.  N 129 


INDEX  OF  PORTRAITS 


169 


Curtis,  Mrs.  E.  Luella 144 

Danks,  Mrs.  C.  S 144 

De  Veiling,  Miss  I.  C 120 

Dibble,  Mrs.  A.  B - 5 

Edholm-Sibley,  Mrs.  Charlton 120 

Ellis,  Mrs.  Margaret  Dye 4 

Elrnore,  Mrs.  Mary  M 129 

Parish,  Mrs.  E.  W 128 

Fryer,  Mrs.  Eliza  Nelson 128 

Gray,  Mrs.  M.  F 120 

Gove,  Mrs.  A.  B 128 

Harry  Mrs.  S.  C. 88 

Headquarters  33 

Kimball,  Mrs.  G.  M - 128 

Long,  Mrs.  E.  P 144 

Macomber.  Mrs.  L 0 144 

Mallory,  Mrs.  Mary  1 144 

McDonald.  Dr.  R.  H 121 

McLean,  Miss  M.  H 144 

Mathews,  Mrs.  Pauline 56 

Miller  Memorial  Building,  Stockton 152 

Minges,  Mrs.  B 144 

Painton,  Mrs.  R.  B 144 

Pringle,  Mrs.  Ella  S 145 

Reading  Room,  Boulder  Creek 152 

Refugee  Camp  113 

Rowell,  Mrs.  N.  A 144 

Russell,  Mrs.  Joel 128 

Sanders,  Mrs.  N.  T 96 

Shelley,  Mrs.  E.  H 129 

Skelton,  Mrs.  H. 120 

Smith,  Mrs.  Mary 88 

Southard,  Mrs.  C.  0 128 

Stoddard,  Mrs.  G.  A 5 

Teats,  Mrs.  M.  E 120 

Thomson,  Mrs.  L.  M 120 

Vaslit-Hackett,  Mrs.  S.  F 129 

Ward,  Mrs.  O.  J 145 

Ward,  Mr.  James 145 

Wakefield,  Mrs.  H.  F 144 

Washburn,  Rev.  B.  C.  H 120 

Watson,  Mrs.  E.  L 49 

Whitman,  Mrs.  Ella  A. 96 

Whitman,  Mrs.  Mae  M 120 

Whtney,  Mrs.  Susan  D 128 

Wolfe,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 145 

Young,  Dr.  C.  F. 56 


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